The regional district has said enough is enough and is taking legal action to clean up a number of derelict vehicles from an Oliver property.

“It’s time to get serious,” said Area C director Allan Patton after the board voted to commence legal proceedings against the owners.

The property on Tucelnuit Drive north of Oliver is located within the Agricultural Land Reserve.

In May of 2008 a complaint was lodged regarding many derelict vehicles behind the house. The owners were contacted and the regional district was told the vehicles would be removed that summer.

In October of 2008, the bylaw enforcement officer conducted an inspection and counted approximately 50 derelict vehicles on the property. There was also an accumulation of discarded household items and vehicle parts.

In June of 2009 the Agricultural Land Commission contacted the owners and gave them until July to bring the property into compliance.

A follow-up inspection a month later indicated that 50 vehicles remained on the property.

In March of 2010, the bylaw officer reported no significant change  – 42 derelict vehicles remained with several piles of car parts and discarded household materials.

A subsequent inspection in September of 2010 showed that two vehicles had been removed, but another four had been added.

Two months later it was confirmed that six vehicles had been removed.

In September of 2011 a $200 fine was issued, followed by three more notices over the next three months.

Bylaw enforcement officer Roza Aylwin said the property owner pleaded with the regional district to stop issuing tickets, citing financial hardship.

The district agreed to stop issuing tickets until May of 2012, subject to the following: outstanding fines are paid; and removal of 10 vehicles per month.

These conditions were not met and tickets continued on May 10, 2012.

On August 20, 2012, an inspection showed 21 vehicles on the property. Five months later the property owners disputed a notice, and an adjudication hearing was held in Penticton on August 1, 2013.

Aylwin said the adjudicator was unable to proceed due to the conduct of one owner and his advocate.

A subsequent hearing was cancelled as all fines were paid by the secondary owner.

The latest inspection on February 24, 2014 revealed there were still 21 vehicles on site. Aylwin noted that some vehicles had been removed but were replaced with other vehicles.

“It became apparent that there may be a salvage or repair operation being conducted in addition to storing derelict vehicles.”

Although more than half of the derelict vehicles have been removed, the property remains in contravention, Aylwin pointed out. She also noted that a salvage operation is not a permitted use in the AG1 (agricultural) zone.

Patton said this issue has continued far too long (six years) and it’s time to resolve it.

“Voluntary compliance is what we are after. If we don’t get that, we reluctantly go to fines and then court injunction.”

Lyonel Doherty

Oliver Chronicle