Buildings at a notorious property south of Nanaimo must be demolished as they have been deemed unsafe, the Regional District of Nanaimo has decreed.
At the RDN's board meeting Tuesday, March 25, directors voted on action in 30 days for dwellings on 790 and 796 Nanaimo River Rd., referred to as 'Easter Island Head Place.' Three structures at the site – one-storey wood, two-storey wood and one-storey metal – "pose a serious safety risk, as they are structurally unstable, unsecure and vulnerable to future vandalism and fire" and were modified without proper permitting, stated a staff report.
The address has been considered a problem property for 20 years, according to the report. Within the past few years, complaints have included land-use contraventions, illegal structures, and the "unsightly and hazardous accumulation of derelict vehicles and other debris on the property." The report also noted 911 calls about illegal activity, noise, fires and toxic material.
The RDN ordered a clean-up of the site in 2023 with a bill of $160,000 and the property owner was considered compliant until last August, when RDN bylaws made a number of visits related to debris "strewn throughout the property," staff stated.
Speaking at the meeting, Brian Ferstel, whose late father owned the property, attributed most of the issues to his brother, who died last year. Ferstel said trailers were moved onto site while he worked out of town. Ferstel said recent efforts have been made to clean up the property, something confirmed by staff. He felt that some of the structures could be salvaged and envisions establishing an amusement park, wildlife recovery centre or building windmills there.
Ferstel said he is in debt due to cleanup and removing the structures will "financially ruin" him, and hoped the RDN could allow him another six months.
Some directors were sympathetic with the property owner's plight, but others pointed out he had been notified about the recent contravention last November. Sheryl Armstrong, Nanaimo director and former RCMP officer, felt one month was long enough.
"He's already had four months and from my previous job, I know this is a big issue out there, and the community is wearing the impact of it, and I don't think it's fair for the community to wear the impact," Armstrong said.
Vanessa Craig, board chairperson, echoed similar sentiments.
"Staff proceed very cautiously and work for long periods of time to get compliance and do not bring forward something like this without doing a lot of diligent work with the property owner over many, many months and [for] this property, years," she said.
The property owner can request the RDN reconsider its decision 14 days after officially receiving notice.
