Surrey man racks up $15K in fees from FVRD for illegally building 2-story addition to home east of Chilliwack, ignoring bylaw violations

To date, Sekhon has accrued over $15,800 in fees stemming from 31 tickets for contravening multiple bylaws and B.C. building codes. The FVRD board reviewed the matter at its meeting on September 22.

The staff report indicates FVRD first investigated the matter back on September 21, 2021 when its bylaw department received a complaint that a two-storey addition was under construction on the main building on the property at 58510 Laidlaw Road. Within two weeks, on October 4, an FVRD bylaw enforcement officer conducted a site inspection and observed three modular homes in derelict condition and a large two-story building undergoing extensive reconstruction work.

According to the bylaw enforcement officer, most of the primary structure appeared to be replaced with new wood featuring trusses, walls, beams, and stairs, and a second-story addition had been added to the front of the structure in question. A stop work order was posted to the primary structure with the bylaw officer’s business card attached to it.

Over the next four days, October 5-8, 2021 to be exact, the bylaw officer received an email from the owner stating he did not feel a building permit was required and asked for leniency because he wanted to finish enclosing the structure before the winter. The FVRD bylaw officer responded with understanding, but advised the owner a permit was required for the extensive renovation and issued a deadline of October 22 for the owner to apply for a deadline. The bylaw officer warned the owner he may be fined if work continues.

On October 20, FVRD bylaw staff and a building official attended the site and noticed that a mobile home subject to a demolition permit, building permit #013326, remains on site. A previously posted stop work order on the primary structure had been covered with an old demolition permit card. Resembling a cat-and-mouse game, the bylaw officer removed the old demolition permit card and observed the recently posted stop work order posted underneath. Further construction had occurred on the east side of the building as well as trenches dug up several feet deep.

During the inspection on October 20, the owner arrived and confirmed further construction on the west side and trench digging for an expansion on the building. Bylaw advised the owner all land alteration, including trench digging, and roof work must stop immediately, and the stop work order must not be concealed. During the site visit, the owner revealed three portable structures on the property would be used as classrooms, but a building official noticed all three were in terrible condition. FVRD advises the owner he must apprise the regional district of any progress on applying for a building permit, contact the FVRD planning department for information on land use, and retain an engineer for certification of the building, all by a new deadline of November 2.

At the end of October, a bylaw infraction letter containing tickets is mailed to the registered owner. The deadline date of November 2 passes without any attempt by the owner to meet the conditions as outlined in the October 20th inspection.

On November 12, a building inspector attended the site and noticed plumbers and framers. Around that time, a complainant advised bylaw that the owner had been living on the property part-time in an RV, and a second person was living in another RV on site as a security guard.

Image: Screenshot, FVRD staff report / An inspection on November 12 revealed further construction had occurred at the home and a stop work order had been ignored.

On December 8, things came to a head when a bylaw officer and building official learned from the owner on site that he had no intention of stopping construction and had been waiting for a response from FVRD bylaw. Bylaw advised the owner he had been repeatedly told to stop work, at which time the owner asserted the new building was pre-existing and he would not stop working on it. When a bylaw officer told the contractors on site they needed to stop work and not return until a building permit was in place, the owner intervened, attempted to intimidate the female bylaw officer, and demanded she not speak to his contractors.

Image: Screenshot, FVRD report / FVRD staff learn on December 8 that further construction has occurred at the property, and the owner tells FVRD staff they need to take legal action before he will stop construction activity at 58510 Laidlaw Road.

In light of the threatening behaviour from Mr. Sekhon, RCMP attended with FVRD staff a week later on December 15, at which time bylaw and building staff notice further construction has occurred and stop work order and no occupancy paperwork have been removed. The derelict mobile home was still on site. Mr. Sekhon was nowhere to be found on that day.

Image: Screenshot, FVRD staff report / FVRD staff return to the Laidlaw Road property and discover more construction has occurred, the stop work order and no occupancy paperwork have been ignored, and a derelict mobile home is still on site. RCMP also attend due to the threatening behaviour exhibited by Kulwinder Kaur Sekhon.

As of March 30, 2022, 31 bylaw tickets had been issued against Kulwinder Kaur Sekhon, of which none were disputed. On June 20, an FVRD bylaw officer confirmed no building permit has been applied for and no steps have been taken to achieve compliance in the matter.

Of note, while the property is located in the Agricultural Land Reserve, the Agricultural Land Commission previously approved a non-farm use for a private school on the property. A new proposal for a private school on the property, or expansion of the existing buildings or structures on the property, may require a new non-farm use application to the ALC.

FVRD was slated to hold a show cause hearing on September 8, 2022 with Sekhon; the outcome of that hearing is unknown. Otherwise, FVRD plans to file a notice against the title of the property owned by Sekhon.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Surrey man racks up $15K in fees from FVRD for illegally building 2-story addition to home east of Chilliwack, ignoring bylaw violations

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