By Craig Westcott/January 13, 2022
It's supposed to be the slow time of year in the construction industry, but the City of Mount Pearl still received five development applications last week, on top of 11 building permit applications with a total construction value of some 1.2 million.
The permit list was presented at Tuesday's public council meeting by councillors Chelsea Lane and Bill Antle who co-chair council's community development committee.
"We have a couple of home offices being built, which is very fitting considering current times," Lane said.
She was referring to home offices for E&M Production Sources Ltd., at 12 Hubbard Place, and Walsh's Electrical Maintenance at 12 McMaster Place.
The other development permits were for a change of use, internal renovations and site work for NKG Holdings at 39 Sagona Avenue, an 'Open Air Assembly Use' application for something called River Rascals Winter 2022 at Power's Pond and on various city trails, and a rear deck for Emberley Fireplaces & BBQs at 1049-1053 Topsail Road.
The building and occupancy list for the period from December 13 to January 7 included permits for single family homes at 9 and 16 Badger Place valued at $550,000 and $350,000 respectively, accessory buildings at 59 McGrath Crescent, 27 Tweedsmuir Place, 4 Wilkes Avenue, and 5 Roland Drive, and a fence at 7 Winsor Place. On the commercial side, grubbing was approved at 22 Glencoe Drive, while 'tenant fit-ups' were approved at 1144 Topsail Road and 1 Commonwealth Avenue.
One thing that was not approved, though the developer allegedly decided to proceed anyway, was work at 161 Park Avenue. As a consequence, councillor Antle asked council for approval to ratify a Stop Work Order issued January 7 against Mike O'Dea and CEI Incorporated Limited. Antle noted the order was being made because an earlier appeal pertaining to the property has not yet been heard by the Eastern Newfoundland Regional Appeal Board.
Quoting from the Stop Work Order, Antle said no permits had been issued for work on the property, “the dilapidated building and condition of the property was a safety concern," a City inspector conducted a site visit on December 31 and confirmed that a worker or contractor was replacing windows and performing interior renovations without a permit, and a subsequent visit on January 4 confirmed work was still proceeding.
Antle advised the developer he has 14 days to appeal the order, but that if he fails to comply with the order itself in the meantime he will be liable for all of the City's legal costs associated with enforcing the order.
Lane seconded the motion to approve the order.
"I'm going to call the question, folks," said Mayor Dave Aker signifying that no further information was required before holding a vote. “We've been briefed on this and followed it as it took place. It's based on an inspection and it contravenes all previous orders, and is frankly out of line with a process that is already in place with regards to an appeal."
The Stop Work Order was ratified unanimously.
