'DRUG' HOUSE FOCUS OF BYLAW

On Tuesday, a yellow no-occupancy sticker was slapped on a suspected drug
house on the North Shore.

On Wednesday, defiant residents remained inside and the city was
investigating whether or not it could legally kick them out.

The notice was put up by city employees at the request of the RCMP and
under the authority of a municipal bylaw enacted to deal with homes housing
drugs - be it marijuana-grow operations or other illegal substances.

"The issue in this case is, is it OK for the occupant to live in the
house?" said Kundan Bubbar, the city's chief building inspector, who was
expected to meet yesterday with the city's lawyer.

While previous homes that have fallen under the strict remedial
requirements of the bylaw clearly had health and safety concerns - they
were all marijuana-grow operations, some with issues of electrical wiring
or mould - the home on Birch Avenue may be questionable.

Police raided the home a week ago and seized a half-ounce of crack cocaine
packaged for sale. They also found a 22-calibre handgun.

A 45-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man, face charges.

RCMP Cpl. Fran Bethell said there were no chemicals being cooked in the
home; rather, police had concerns about the property's overall condition
and livability, and that's why the city was called upon to apply the bylaw.

"They were concerned it was very run down, wasn't clean, which is very
common in these types of homes that are used as selling points for drugs."

A crack shack police showed KTW in December, just after it was shut down,
had broken windows, furniture piled outside and a lingering stench of feces.

Right after the no-occupancy notice was put on the door of the Birth Avenue
home, the occupants contacted their lawyer.

He, in turn, contacted the city.

If all that was found was a small amount of drugs, the lawyer wants to know
what made the home unsafe, in the opinion of the city.

While the no-occupancy notice remains on the home, the city hasn't gone as
far as having the utilities turned off, which would be the next step.

Bubbar said he wants to first be certain he has the legal authority before
the bylaw is fully enforced.