Toronto couple built an addition to house without permits told to tear it down.
- Thread starter james t kirk
- Start date
I'm looking for a place to hold weekly death-metal concerts. Shouldn't be more than a few hundred people at a time, and the noise will die down after 4 am. Can you sublet me some space in that backyard?
Wow, that's a first, I agree with Adam Vaughn. I
So you'd be okay if your neighbour cut down all the trees in their back yard and built a giant addition onto the back of their house effectively blocking all the sunlight you used to get? There's a reason people have to get permits.
Are there no rules regarding rooming houses? There use to be a house on our block where the absentee owner rented rooms to college students. Loud parties every weekend. Nude co-eds running around the lawn. There must have been 30 people living in that house. I called the city and was advised there are no rules regarding rooming houses.
i hate to admitt to it but yes i too agree with adam vaughn......damn it hurt to say that!!!!!! they or their builder knew they needed permits......i am betting they also knew they would not be approved so they went ahead anyway and never thought that when it was built they would be made to take it down!!!!
Different cities, different laws, and if there's no rooming house law you use what law there is, anti noise, under-age drinking, over occupied by fire-code… Or you make your Councillor earn her money and help solve the problem.
On the other hand, you have related parties living 12 to a house in Brampton. Remember that E.I. wife and mother who was murdered in her own home and the other 15 family members in the house never saw nor heard anything?
It's always a good idea to check with the municipality before doing anything to your property. I laid down some patio stones on my front lawn. A few years later a city inspector came to my house for a different reason. Saw the patio stones and asked if I got a permit for these stones.
I was thinking the same thing.
People can get carried away sometimes with Reno. I have no problem if a neighbour wants to build an addition, provided it is within reason and most of all - well built and architecturally pleasing.
That said, on my street, every single house is 2 stories.
I don't want to see one guy adding on a third floor, it's just not in keeping with the street.
I hear you.
And though myself, I'd be tempted not to worry about a permit if I was finishing a basement or redoing a kitchen, a full blown addition, or a new garage, or altering the structure - a permit is a good idea.
There are also legal implications when you go to sell the property.
A friend of mine did an illegal build in Mississauga and don't ask me how, but when he went to sell, there were issues that came to light because the addition had been built without a permit. Mississauga put him through the ringer. He ended up hiring an Engineer at great expense to certify the build (which my friend had built himself) and jumping through all kinds of hoops, AND paying a big fine.
Simply not worth it.
Given their nationality (ok, scream racism now) I'd say it was a given. The same reason they figured that they could build it without any permits or variances.
Part of me thinks that the city is using them to set an example. And well, so be it.
i hate the Canadian govt's conservative ways but these idiots are fools (<--- yup.. i said it.. idiots are fools xD) This ain't Hong Kong or China where you can easily build your wall next to your neighbours wall.
and what an idiot awyer daughter who would even let their parents go ahead without a permit. In Canada, unlike China or HK, you can't get away with something because its already done.. No one is going to give you compassion and spare you because you spent a few thousands building something without a permit (and especially when you go ahead with it knowing you need a permit). Lame excuses like your wife's health or family suicides, that make absolutely no sense, ain't going to help either xDD
and what an idiot awyer daughter who would even let their parents go ahead without a permit. In Canada, unlike China or HK, you can't get away with something because its already done.. No one is going to give you compassion and spare you because you spent a few thousands building something without a permit (and especially when you go ahead with it knowing you need a permit). Lame excuses like your wife's health or family suicides, that make absolutely no sense, ain't going to help either xDD
renovation to a house, bar, business or similar is fine (and easier to get away with even if you required a permit) because it is more or less cosmetic. Unlike this project, it isn't a huge addition whereby you extend and build over property lines and there are major structural issues to deal with. And more importantly, it doesn't affect your neighbour's property in terms of obstructing views, decreasing light, safety etc.
I TRULY question the daughter's brains. She's a fucking lawyer in the legal system of Ontario. She actually owns the house and she let this happen?
They should publish her name so everyone knows how stupid she is and questions whether or not to hire her.
The whole permit process might have cost 3 or 4 grand.
The other issue is that neighbours who have gotten permits get PISSED off when they see them building without a permit and so they rat them out.
If the couple in question had taken the time to do a set of drawings, meet with the neighbours, they might have gotten at least some of the neighbours on their side. But instead, they figured they could just do what ever the fuck they wanted and it pissed the neighbours off.
Yup if you have one of those neighbours you're in for a looong life of hell. Now why don't they go after all the infractions along the very same street? Why persecute one family do the whole area whilebyoure at it, i'm sure they'll be able to reclaim the whole neighbourhood and build a new one for their friends.
I doubt having your neighbours on your side would help in this case... Its not a community build and benefits NO ONE in the community aside from a rich arrogant family. They're just breaking the law and hoping to get away with it.
One just has to imagine, what would happen if every neighbour started adding such additions... No way the govt will allow them. If they did, they better be ready to allow more people in doing it or fear being sued.. this is Canada
That's what the Committee of Adjustment is there for. (I know, I've been before them before - it's kind of an interesting experience.)
They are there to consider the merrits of the City of Toronto Planning Act as well as weigh the interests of the homeowner, and the interests of the neighbours.
If you can demonstrate to them that your proposed renovation enjoys widespread support among the neighbours, then they (the Committee of Adjustment) will take that into consideration and quite possibly issue you with a minor variance and let you proceed with your proposed reno.
But if your neighbours all show up pissed off about what you want to do, then the Committee also takes that into consideration.
Usually what they look for is a compromise. They will ask you to go out in the hall and meet with your neighbours to discuss modifying your design. Hopefully everyone agrees then and you'll get your variance.
Support of neighbours is huge when attempting to get a minor variance.
The Tseng's should just cry racism, that'll change Adam Vaughn's tune real quick (being a guilt-ridden Liberal and all) :biggrin1:
