Pubdate: Tue, 17 May 2005 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Chilliwack Times Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) CITY WANTS HAZARDOUS DECLARATION ON HOMES USED AS GROWING OPERATIONS CHILLIWACK - The city is using a new weapon in its ongoing battle with people whose homes are used to grow marijuana. Earlier this month the city held show cause hearings concerning a couple of properties, and more were slated for Monday night. The tactic council is taking, using powers from a recent bylaw, is to place notice on the titles of properties stating they are hazardous, in order to force the owners to make the homes inhabitable. "Under the bylaw we can order them to bring the homes into compliance," Mayor Clint Hames. They are supposed to make sure the sites are clean, structurally sound, safe, and tested for noxious materials. Hames said many of the homes found to be growing operations have problems such as building code violations. The show cause hearings are one strategy that makes up part of the Nuisance, Noxious, Offensive Trade, Health and Safely Bylaw the city recently brought in, which also includes a provision to fine owners up to $10,000 if they have not taken steps to prevent grow-ops from setting up on their property. "There are two specific aspects to the bylaw that sometimes get intertwined," Hames said. - --- MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman