REPEAT GROW-OP INFO COULD BE NOTED ON TITLE

Owners of homes used more than once for marijuana grow operations
could see that information added to property titles as part of a new
city policy.

In a report going to council's planning and environment committee on
Thursday, bylaw administration manager Carlene Robbins has asked that
a note be made on the certificate of title for 2218 Burquitlam Dr.
indicating the home has been used twice as a grow-op.

"Staff have advised the owners that a new departmental policy has been
initiated to handle repeat grow-ops, which is to request council
approval for the filing of a warning notice on title of the property,"
Robbins wrote.

The Fraserview home, built in 1953, was first raided by the city's
Grow Busters team in June 2002.

Power and gas to the home were disconnected and the owners, Balraj and
Sukhraj Jawanda of Kerr Street, were told they would have to have the
home reinspected before being permitted to rent the property out
again. A re-occupancy permit was issued in July 2002, and the home was
subsequently re-rented.

However, according to the staff report, in January, the home was again
raided by police and another grow-op was discovered.

The city called in the owners, who advised staff they were evicting
the tenant and had no idea the home was being used again for a
grow-op. The owners are now seeking a re-occupancy permit.

If council approves the staff request, the notice on the property
title will warn that the home has been used as an illegal marijuana
grow operation on two occasions and there were building and electrical
bylaw infringements at the time.

Grow-ops can damage a home due to high humidity levels in the
grow-room, which may also cause mold.

The Jawandas could not be reached for comment.