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Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance
Langley Township Councillor Charlie Fox wants to see vacant homes either fixed up or demolished. This home has been standing for three years after a fire.
Township council
Council mulls demolition laws
A new bylaw could see derelict houses around Langley Township knocked down. by Matthew Claxton
mclaxton@langleyadvance.com
The Langley Township council is looking at forcing property owners to tear down or fix up derelict and vacant homes. Councillor Charlie Fox’s motion to amend the Abandoned Properties Bylaw would set a 30-day deadline after a house is declared “uninhabitable” by police, the fire department, or Township engineers. Fox said he has been thinking about the problem all summer. A house near his South Langley home caught fire more than a year ago, he said. Every day he drives past the damaged and abandoned building, which has been sitting there ever since. “There’s never been an effort to put it back into a habitable condition,” said Fox. There are a number of similar fire-dam-
aged homes, not to mention homes that are Some houses around Langley are occupied simply empty as the property changes hands even while they are on lots awaiting redeveland awaits development. Other houses were opment. used as marijuana grow operations, have “If they have renters, then that’s fine,” said been damaged by the humidity and chemicals Fox. used, and have never been repaired. While several councillors expressed support The vacant homes become eyesores, and of the idea, there were some concerns around attract squatters and vandals, said Fox. the table at Monday night’s meeting. He talked about the prob“I just find this a little bit lem outside a derelict home heavy duty,” said Coun. Bob “There’s never been in Willoughby, just south Long. of 80th Avenue on 208th He suggested first finding out an effort to put it Street. The home has been what other nearby towns do to back into habitable set on fire three times, first control their vacant buildings. on two occasions in 2009, The 30-day limit worried Coun. condition.” including once when occuBev Dornan, and Coun. David Charlie Fox pied. Police said at the time Davis, although they agreed that that the building was linked it was worth looking at. to the drug trade. Most of the council supported Long’s The damaged shell stood for four years motion to have Township staff report back on and caught fire again this summer, either proposal. deliberately torched or in an accidental fire If Fox’s version of the bylaw passes, it will by squatters. The remains are still standing force the owners of the property to pay for behind a sign advertising that the land could the demolition of derelict houses after 30 be rezoned for condos and townhouses. days, or face daily $500 fines. The Township Fox pointed out garbage in the house’s could also demolish a house after the deaddriveway, including spray paint canisters. line and bill the landowner.