Editor:
As an engineer who has been involved in land development, I never cease to be amazed at the expense, time and level of frustration that developers go through, often for minimal reward. There are myriad reasons why a landowner would not go through with a project but often it is because they don’t have enough money left or are simply sick of the hoops they have had to jump through to do something with a property that they own and have paid for.
While I don’t have a problem with municipal oversight I do have a problem with self-appointed guardians who have no skin in the game and no professional expertise telling their neighbours how to live their lives and spend their money.
As a former building official it was hard to keep a straight face when a resident who had built their home to the maximum allowed, and which was frankly a carbuncle, had the unmitigated gall to file a complaint against a neighbour who wished to rebuild their small laneway garage.
Frankly, if I still had the energy to build a house or two, buying a lot with all the permissions in place already would be a bargain at any price.
Chester Machniewski, Gibsons
