A successful outcome was reached for a recent court case involving unauthorized construction of a dwelling and site alteration on an island property in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands.
Cataraqui Conservation and the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands charged the landowner for unauthorized work. The work had occurred in contravention of conservation authority regulations, the Township Zoning By-law and the Ontario Building Code. In addition to the unauthorized dwelling, the work included a septic system and several accessory buildings that were built without approvals too close to the shoreline of the St. Lawrence River and a Provincially Significant Wetland.
Through an agreed upon settlement, the Provincial Offences Court imposed a $17,500 fine and the landowner was required to relocate the dwelling, replace the septic system, remove the accessory structures, and restore the site.
Cataraqui Conservation works closely with landowners to ensure construction projects near the water comply with requirements intended to protect development from natural hazards, such as flooding and erosion, and to avoid impacts to the watershed. This is part of the provincially mandated role of conservation authorities in Ontario under the Conservation Authorities Act. Under the Act, conservation authorities must also enforce the regulation, which can lead to restoration orders and substantial fines where work occurs in disregard of conservation authority rules. The outcome of this enforcement matter is confirmation that willful disregard for these rules can result in consequences.
“Cataraqui Conservation staff are here to help people navigate the approvals process on building projects,” stated Paul Proderick, Cataraqui Conservation Board Chair. “Please reach out to our office if you are planning work on or near the water.”
For further information on Cataraqui Conservation’s role with regards to planning and permitting, visit: https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/planning-permitting
To report an occurrence of suspected unauthorized work, visit: https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/report-a-violation