Council To Discuss Precedent Which Could Cost Taxpayers Millions

Council is about to enter a slippery slope at their regular meeting later this afternoon as they discuss, forcing a legal laneway or back alley through one of the alleys in the Avenues neighbourhood.

A recent homebuyer found out the hard way when it came to applying for a detached garage.

The City was unable to issue a permit for the garage as there was no legal public access to the proposed garage.

Although the presentation to Council states, the planning department was unaware of who owned the back alley until a permit to build the garage was submitted it’s something Administration in the past was well aware of.

It has to deal with garbage collection, and the argument made by Administration to convert the entire city from back alley to curb side collection.

This fact became well known to Administration who used it as one of the reasons in order to justify moving from back alley to curb side garbage collection.

The majority of the back alleys in the Avenues neighbourhood bounded by 8th Avenue NW to 4th Avenue SW from Laurier Street to Caribou Street West are actually privately owned and property owners pay property tax on the “alley” portion of the property.

During the great curb side garbage collection debate of 2017 and 2018 Council at that time was told it would cost the City $3 million.

Council’s decision could have a far-reaching impact in a large area of the city.

Come back later today as we will have the entire story with appropriate background information.