BYLAW OFFICERS TARGET POT HOUSES

Investigators Using Property Standards To Crack Down

Vaughan bylaw officers are assessing the extent of mould and structural
damage of three marijuana grow houses they invaded within the past week,
according to senior manager of enforcement services Tony Thompson.

The three homes -- one on Villagewood Court near Hwy. 7 and Kipling Avenue
and two on Fossil Hill Road near Major Mackenzie Drive and Weston Road --
are the first to be involved in a new joint project between the city and
York Regional Police to crack down on residential grow operations.

"I'm not aware of other municipalities taking this route. It's pretty much
on the leading edge," said Mr. Thompson, a former RCMP officer in British
Columbia and municipal police officer in Peterborough.

Under the program, police immediately notify bylaw officers about a grow
home once they have shut down the operation and completed their investigation.

The notification allows bylaw officers to get inside right away to examine
the home for any health and safety risks.

If the bylaw officers detect problems such as mould, pesticide damage, fire
hazards and structural risks, they will issue a property standards order
against the property.

That serves two purposes.

The homeowner, often someone who has turned a blind eye to the illegal
activities of his or her tenants, will have to fix the problems or face
charges from the city.

The order will be placed on file, which can alert potential new homebuyers.

In the past, the city was unaware of grow homes vacated after police
investigations until neighbours complained the properties had become
derelict and targeted by vandals, Mr. Thompson said.

While many municipalities are looking for ways to battle grow operations,
he believes Vaughan is the first community to use its property standards bylaw.

"There's nobody else I'm aware of doing it," he said.

"We're really taking a solution right there in front of us."

Det.-Sgt. Karen Noakes, with York police's drugs and vice squad, is
praising Vaughan's efforts.

"We're very pleased. Vaughan has really stepped up and taken it on," she
said, adding Markham is also developing measures to fight grow homes."

Once their criminal investigation is over, Det.-Sgt. Noakes said police are
out of the picture. But, at the same time, the police have concerns about
what happens to the property when they pull out.

"It's concerning to be on the other end of the phone when somebody is
calling and say's they've already moved into a home (with mould and other
dangers) with their child."

Seven of the 20 grow homes, 35 per cent, discovered by police this year
have been in Vaughan, Det-Sgt. Noakes said.

Meanwhile, 40 of the 132 operations, about 30 per cent, uncovered by police
last year were in Vaughan.

In 2003, 81 of the 173 homes, 46 per cent, were in Vaughan.

While the joint project is being praised, some people are suggesting the
policy doesn't go far enough.

Councillor Linda Jackson wants the city to consider posting large signs on
the properties of former grow homes to alert neighbours and potential buyers.

"We need to raise a level of awareness in the community," said Ms Jackson,
adding federal politicians have to bring in stiffer penalities for grow
operators, especially in light of last week's massacre of four RCMP officers.

"The laws of the land have to be changed. If (police) arrest them, courts
just slap them on the wrist and throw them back on the street. It's the
cost of doing business."

City solicitor Bob Swayze cautioned there may be problems with posting
signs on former grow homes.

"I'd like an opportunity to look at that. I would be concernd about the
rest of the neighbours not wanting it."

Harold Gardner, president-elect of the York Region Real Estate Board, is
pleased to see Vaughan taking steps to warn new homebuyers about grow homes.

But rather than tucking information in a file that can only be accessed by
a formal search of city records, he would prefer to see the information
made easily available to buyers, real estate agents and residents.

"If they want to protect the buying public, I think they have to give
realistic access to the information," he said.