The house is fewer than 40 years old, but Centre Wellington council has agreed to provide a demolition permit for it after hearing from Building Inspector Bob Foster.
He said the house, a two storey, 2,788 square foot home at emergency number 6790 on County Road 7 near Elora has been abandoned “for some time and is beyond repair.”
Foster provided council with numerous pictures, many of them showing water damage and mould growth. The damage ran from the basement to the skylight.
Foster told council the owners plan to rebuild, and he has informed them that because the home was built in what is now an environmentally sensitive area, “there is no guarantee a new house will go back in the same location.”
He said that the Grand River Conservation Authority will have a say on that issue, and the owners will also have to meet township regulations.
Planner Brett Salmon said he has heard the owner has consulted with the GRCA and that the plan is to place a new home in the “same footprint.”
But, Salmon added, GRCA officials have stated the house is not located in the floodplain.
Councillor Walt Visser asked, “Is the position of the house relevant to the condition of the house?”
Foster said that could very well be the case.
“There could be a very high water table.”
