79 Ch. Fraser | Saved by the judge

[rocketphish]

Still there! And that really is a monster of a house.



Photo by me
Aug 14, 2022

[Acajack]

No demolition. As expected. It was foolish to think a million-dollar home would be demolished because of a municipal clerical error.

https://www.ledroit.com/2023/03/08/pas-d...2Dzg_ka3a4_YkwSObpsI9oGNIMkRiPjNKY4HOCG4

[rocketphish]

Mansion built in error won't have to be demolished, judge rules
Home at 79 chemin Fraser was built too close to the road, spurring long legal saga

CBC News
Posted: Mar 08, 2023 1:08 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours ago



Quebec's court of appeal has decided a three-storey home in Gatineau, Que., that was built too close to the road — much to the ire of people living nearby — can remain standing.

The judicial and administrative saga began nearly a decade ago when it was determined the house at 79 chemin Fraser in the city's Aylmer sector contravened city planning regulations.

The home's owner, Patrick Molla, had been given all the required permits to build in 2013.

But an internal investigation at the city concluded he was granted them in error, as the official who approved them didn't know the article in the city's zoning bylaws that establishes the minimum distance between a home and the street.

The city granted Molla an exemption in 2014, but residents complained the $2.5-million home was out of character with the neighbourhood.

In 2021, the Superior Court of Quebec quashed the exemption, ruling the City of Gatineau was trying to protect itself from its employee's mistake and head off any potential lawsuit.

The city decided to appeal, and this week the appeal court ruled in their favour.

In a French-language statement Wednesday the city said the ruling "closes a chapter" in the legal saga, but it would not offer further comment as a claim for damages remained before the court.

With files from Radio-Canada

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/79-chemin-fraser-appeal-court-quebec-no-demolition-1.6771957

[harls]

Originally Posted by Acajack

No demolition. As expected. It was foolish to think a million-dollar home would be demolished because of a municipal clerical error.

https://www.ledroit.com/2023/03/08/pas-d...2Dzg_ka3a4_YkwSObpsI9oGNIMkRiPjNKY4HOCG4

Agreed.

[J.OT13]

They've probably wanted to get out of there for years, but couldn't even contemplate selling a house under thread of demolition. The Cour d’appel du Québec set them free.

That said, it's hard enough selling a house of that category, but when it's been on the news constantly for 10 years, and perspective owners know the neighbours hate the house and what it stands for, it adds additional challenges.

Le 79, chemin Fraser est en vente
Par Justine Mercier, Le Droit
16 mai 2023

L’imposante résidence du 79, chemin Fraser, dont la construction dans le secteur Aylmer avait soulevé la controverse, est à vendre pour 3,5 millions de dollars.



L’adresse est bien connue à Gatineau. En 2014, Le Droit avait révélé que la Ville de Gatineau avait commis une erreur en autorisant la construction d’une luxueuse maison trop près de la rue, ce qui contrevenait à la réglementation municipale. Les voisins avaient qualifié l’arrivée de cette résidente de «désastre» pour le quartier.

C’est le propriétaire de la résidence et courtier immobilier Patrick Molla qui s’occupe de la vente, pour la somme de 3 495 000$. La fiche publiée sur le site Centris indique que la demeure compte 26 pièces, dont cinq chambres, deux cuisines, trois salles de bain et deux salles d’eau. La personne qui acquerra cette propriété y retrouvera aussi un ascenseur et une piscine creusée. La cour arrière donne sur la rivière des Outaouais.







L’évaluation foncière de la propriété s’élève présentement à tout près de 1,5 million de dollars. La facture des taxes municipales pour l’année en cours s’élève à plus de 17 000$.

Procédures judiciaires

En 2021, la Cour supérieure avait cassé une résolution du conseil municipal de Gatineau octroyant une dérogation mineure au propriétaire de la résidence. Le tribunal avait du même coup ordonné la démolition de la maison.

Le dossier s’est ensuite retrouvé devant la Cour d’appel du Québec. Le plus haut tribunal de la province a infirmé, en mars dernier, le jugement de première instance. La maison n’est donc plus menacée de démolition. «Rien dans la preuve ne permet de conclure que les élus ont octroyé la dérogation mineure afin d’éviter que la Ville soit poursuivie en dommages-intérêts ou dans un autre but détourné», soulignait notamment la décision de la Cour d’appel.

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/actua...est-en-vente-UVQWCDP5UVB3RPEOQ4RG52D3SI/

[harls]

Can you blame the owner for selling? All of his neighbours giving him the stink eye.

The new owner of this place probably won't get any love either.

[OTownandDown]

From above, this really doesn't seem very invasive. Sure the house on the right becomes a bit of an alcove, but the house on the left seems fine.

At least they all align to the back, so no views of the river are obstructed.

[jt-mtl]

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

From above, this really doesn't seem very invasive. Sure the house on the right becomes a bit of an alcove, but the house on the left seems fine.

At least they all align to the back, so no views of the river are obstructed.

The trees next to the house have matured and risen to a height that it does not seem invasive anymore. I really wonder what outcome these NIMBYs expected after over a decade of fighting. Going forward, they should make pubic which neighbors complain about a future.development, so the NIMBYs take ownership of their complaints rather than doing it anonymously.