Councillors here had a first hand look on April 11 at the effect that operating a marijuana growing operation can have in a house – when they gave permission to demolish the building.
Council was meeting in the committee of the whole and approved a recommendation from building inspector Bob Foster to issue a demolition permit for a house at 7270 Sideroad 10 Concesssion 3 East of the Grand River, at Part Lot 9 in old Pilkington township.
Foster said in his report, “The owner’s intent is to completely remove the dwelling with no plan to reconstruct, but to till the land and use as part of his farming operation. The existing structure, previously rented out to tenants, has been used as “a marijuana grow house” which now requires extensive upgrades and repairs and would prove to be too costly.
Foster said there had been a police raid on the house in May of 2008. It was built in 1852 but was not included in the township’s inventory of rural heritage buildings and was not designated or listed under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Foster included in his report some photos of the wreckage of the home. Houses that are used to grow marijuana are often extensively damaged because of the required high humidity. He provided pictures of wrecked walls, floors, and furniture in the home.
Foster also noted that several departments in the township had been contacted, as well as Heritage Centre Wellington, and nobody had any problems with council issuing a demotion permit. Council was unanimous in approving the work.
