The birthplace of B.C. may be 91原创鈥檚 most historic neighbourhood but recently, parts of Fort 91原创 have had the feel of a ghost town.

Prominent eateries along Glover Road, including the Lampliter Caf茅 and Jim鈥檚 Pizza, have recently been boarded up, along with several other businesses and homes, now surrounded by fencing.

On the east side of Glover Road, across the street from the community hall, several homes and larger businesses now sit empty along Mary Avenue to Church Street.

Fort 91原创 developer Eric Woodward owns those properties. In October 2017, he said he would board up businesses after he reached an impasse with the Township on future development he had planned for the village. He launched a public protest last October when he painted one of his houses pink. It has since been repainted grey.

He launched a public protest last October when he painted one of his houses pink. It has since been repainted grey.

Last October, Woodward applied to tear down the home, but said the Township refused to issue a permit for the demolition of the house or for several other, now-vacated, buildings on the 1.39-acre parcel of land at Glover Road and Mary Avenue unless several conditions were met, and which Woodward considered unreasonable.

Frustrated by what he felt was a lack of support from the Township, Woodward indicated he would not pursue development plans for the site, which had included a boutique hotel.

At the time, he said, 鈥淭here are up to eight buildings that (are) going to empty within the next four to six months.鈥�

Woodward was also unhappy about demolition requirements that included a 鈥榯ree protection plan for each property,鈥� to ensure trees wouldn鈥檛 be harmed in the demolition.

Last week, a stand of tall trees on Woodward鈥檚 Glover Road properties were cut down, as well as other trees and hedges on other parts of the property.

In response, some residents painted a mural on a fence to stand in contrast to the tree removal. It bears the word, 鈥楲ove,鈥� with trees on either side of the word.

Longtime Fort resident and artist Janice Robertson is shocked by the boarded-up windows and loss of trees. She has lived in Fort 91原创 for more than 30 years, and she said she鈥檚 seen changes, but nothing like this.

鈥淚 just feel devastated by this 鈥� it has a profound effect on how the village looks.鈥�

Woodward said he had 鈥渘o choice鈥� but to remove multiple trees because of efforts he alleges are being made to have select trees on his properties declared 鈥渉eritage.鈥�

Township has no heritage tree bylaws in Fort 91原创, said the mayor.

鈥淚 would have preferred to leave many trees in place until redevelopment but was unable to consider doing so any longer because of these tactics,鈥� said Woodward on Monday.

Township head planner Ramin Seifi said Woodward has no application currently before the Township, so he is allowed to cut the trees down if he wishes.

However, he said when a developer submits an application for development 鈥渢hey have to prepare a site design proposal which includes the number of trees on the property and how the developer plans to retain as many trees as possible,鈥� said Seifi. That is standard policy, he said, and it was required of Woodward when he originally wanted to demolish the house he painted pink in protest.

鈥淚f a developer has been shown to be taking advantage of the process, like removing trees before submitting a proposal, council can require him to do more,鈥� said Seifi.

On Monday, Woodward reiterated he has no immediate plans for the buildings and homes that now sit empty and covered in plywood.

鈥淭he buildings will remain boarded until redevelopment, as many of them are unsalvageable and have now been environmentally abated ready for demolitions. We are actually not allowed to remove them without political process, which we will not attempt at this point, given the never-ending smear campaigns and social media shenanigans from the same group of people,鈥� Woodward said.

Township Mayor Jack Froese, who is a Fort resident, said there is nothing the municipality can do about the situation. As long as Woodward doesn鈥檛 infringe on the unsightly property bylaws, he is within his rights, Froese said.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 tell a business owner what to do with their businesses. I鈥檝e reached out to Mr. Woodward. I鈥檝e told him our door is open to work with him.鈥�

With respect to trees that have been removed, Froese said there is no tree protection bylaw in Fort 91原创, as there is in Brookswood.

鈥淭hose trees were on Mr. Woodward鈥檚 private property, so if a business decided to cut down the trees, it鈥檚 their right to do so,鈥� said Froese.

He said this isn鈥檛 the first time Fort 91原创 has looked less than its best.

When Woodward鈥檚 Coulter Berry building development was tied up in a Supreme Court challenge, a large hole remained in the heart of the village for some time.

鈥淲e still had visitors to Fort 91原创 then,鈥� he said.

Woodward has a long and controversial history in Fort 91原创 that began with his proposal to construct the three-storey Coulter Berry Building 鈥� a mixed use development that fronts Glover Road.

Residents won a lawsuit against the Township, which had granted a heritage alteration permit to allow for construction of a building that exceeded existing height restrictions. The Township appealed that ruling and won, and the Coulter Berry Building opened in September 2016.

At the Feb. 19 Township meeting, Coun. Kim Richter made a notice of motion to invite Woodward to discuss his concerns with council.

鈥淎 significant property owner and developer has publicly expressed his discontent with the treatment he has received from the township and he has said he is no longer able to redevelop large areas of the commercial core of Fort 91原创 and has permanently boarded some of them up,鈥� Richter stated in her motion.

monique@langleytimes.com
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