Property owner Frank Hudy appeared before Yorkton Council Monday with water concerns on a neighbouring property at 83 Pheasant Cove.
In a letter dated Aug. 30 to Council Hudy related in August of 2015.NL Construction Inc. dug a basement on the east side of our home and blocked a natural water run. The water is backed up as it comes from three lots. As a result it has made a perfect breeding area. At this time of year there is a danger of West Nile. We are also unable to enjoy our back yard.
Appearing before Council Hudy said the situation limited their uses of their backyard and deck because of mosquitoes and fear over West Nile.
Brant Hryhorczuk, Manager of Building Services, with the City presented a report to Council on the situation later during Monday’s meeting.
“The complainant claimed that the construction was causing water to pond at the bottom of the lots. An inspection found that a large pile of excavation material was at the back of the property line of the home under construction which was a normal occurrence for a home at that particular stage of construction,” detailed the report.
“A follow up site visit was performed by Building Services on September 1, 2015. The excavation pile had been removed and there remained a small grade differential between the properties. This is considered as a normal occurrence as the final finished grading of a new home is work that does not take place until the home is substantially complete.”
The report went on to indicate Hudy’s own property might have been a factor in the situation.
“The pond of water at the bottom of the lots was occurring on the portion of the land beyond the rear property lines on what is City property.”
“It is important to mention that the complainant’s home was built without a walk out basement on a street where all the homes to the east were constructed with walk outs. This decision not to build a walk out resulted in a hill being built behind the home in order to satisfy the ground cover requirements of a traditional foundation,” stated the report.
“At the time of the site visit on September 1, 2015 the complainant was actively watering his rear lawn with no less than three sprinkler heads. It is the opinion of Building Services that the water from the sprinklers was subsequently running down the hill behind the home and was creating a pond at the bottom on the City property.”
That all said the report concluded the situation was improved.
“An inspection on September 10, 2015 found the pond to be greatly reduced in size. At the time of the inspection the lawn was not actively being watered. Building Services would further note the small pond of water currently on City property does not in any way pose a hazard to the foundation of the home at 89 Pheasant Cove.”
When asked what follow-up would now take place Hryhorzcuk said that was at the discretion of Council as his focus was to do what satisfied the responsibility of the City.
“I don’t think there is really a problem,” he said.
Council did instruct that Hudy be informed they received and filed the report from Building Services.
