The developer behind excavation that compromised the safety of a White Rock lane has been fined for violating the conditions of his permit.
The penalty total hasn’t been finalized yet, according to Richard Wilson, the city’s acting director of development services, but will be $150 per day that the affected lane remains closed.
City officials closed a section of the lane around 3 p.m. Friday, after investigating a resident’s report of an unsafe situation.
A stop-work order was also issued on the two lots in question, located in the 15500-block of Columbia Avenue. It will remain in place until the city sees that new plans for the developer’s desired work – and the associated application – are in place.
“We really had to lay the law down on him… get his attention,” Wilson said.
The city discovered that the embankment behind two under-construction homes had been excavated straight down along the rear property line, threatening the stability of the lane.
The work was done without the required on-site supervision of a geotechnical engineer, the city said.
Wilson said backfill that was ordered is in place, and the developer’s geotechnical engineer has signed off on the rehabilitation.
The city’s director of engineering said Wednesday afternoon (after Peace Arch News' press deadline) he is satisfied that the site is stable, and that the lane was in the process of being reopened. The barricades will remain at the side of the lane, with flashing lights added, to alert motorists to use caution, Greg St. Louis said.