MAPLETON – Discussion about the sale of a surplus residential lot in Glen Allan has led to a complete inventory review of all saleable lots in Mapleton.
According to a Jan. 22 report to council, staff received a letter of interest from Mapleton resident Rod Bauman to purchase a quarter-acre of vacant land at 15 Hill street in Glen Allan.
Bauman stated the land adjacent to his property “is currently vacant … not maintained and has several abandoned vehicles and debris on it.”
Councillor Paul Douglas noted an aerial map of Glen Allan showed five other municipally-owned parcels of land.
That led councillor Michael Martin to ask whether staff should be looking into other surplus lots that could be put up for sale.
“I don’t know if we track it here but … let’s start looking at it; let’s start putting it up and declaring it surplus and getting rid of it because I am sure that those surplus properties have a lot more value to adjoining property owners,” Martin said.
Mayor Gregg Davidson and councillor Dennis Craven agreed.
CAO Manny Baron explained staff has already started to assess other vacant land and was planning to release the information for that purpose within the year.
“Prior to me arriving here in Mapleton, [clerk Barb Schellenberger] did go through that exercise …” Baron said.
“So in talking to Barb and staff, what we hoped to come back with at some point throughout the year is a list to determine whether they are any value to the township or not.”
15 Hill Street
Council discussed whether to authorize a bylaw declaring the Hill Street property surplus, without an appraisal, at a future meeting.
Two other neighbours also have properties that adjoin the vacant lot.
Baron said the municipal policy is to give each adjoining owner the opportunity to purchase a portion as it relates to the personal use of their own property.
“But depending on what council wishes to do, we would be willing to look at other ways to do that,” Baron said.
Schellenberger said staff recommends there be no appraisal because of how much it would cost to pay surveyors and appraisers.
“I think each adjoining landowner would have had the same opportunity to put in a letter of interest such as this so I would be in favour of a first come, first served kind of scenario,” said councillor Michael Martin.
Before council passed the resolution regarding 15 Hill Street, Martin added an addendum to that effect.
“It’s a quarter acre. Let’s get this thing done and off the books and start looking for more,” said Martin.
“I think they have all had equal chance to put in an expression of interest. Mr. Bauman has clearly put the leg work in to inquire about it.”
Martin, Craven and councillor Marlene Ottens voted in favour of the first-come, first-served addendum, while councillor Paul Douglas was opposed.
The original resolution to declare the land surplus without appraisal at a future meeting was then approved unanimously by council members.
