Pubdate: Mon, 08 Mar 2004 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: David Carrigg Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations REPEAT GROW-OP INFO COULD BE NOTED ON TITLE Owners of homes used more than once for marijuana grow operations could see that information added to property titles as part of a new city policy. In a report going to council's planning and environment committee on Thursday, bylaw administration manager Carlene Robbins has asked that a note be made on the certificate of title for 2218 Burquitlam Dr. indicating the home has been used twice as a grow-op. "Staff have advised the owners that a new departmental policy has been initiated to handle repeat grow-ops, which is to request council approval for the filing of a warning notice on title of the property," Robbins wrote. The Fraserview home, built in 1953, was first raided by the city's Grow Busters team in June 2002. Power and gas to the home were disconnected and the owners, Balraj and Sukhraj Jawanda of Kerr Street, were told they would have to have the home reinspected before being permitted to rent the property out again. A re-occupancy permit was issued in July 2002, and the home was subsequently re-rented. However, according to the staff report, in January, the home was again raided by police and another grow-op was discovered. The city called in the owners, who advised staff they were evicting the tenant and had no idea the home was being used again for a grow-op. The owners are now seeking a re-occupancy permit. If council approves the staff request, the notice on the property title will warn that the home has been used as an illegal marijuana grow operation on two occasions and there were building and electrical bylaw infringements at the time. Grow-ops can damage a home due to high humidity levels in the grow-room, which may also cause mold. The Jawandas could not be reached for comment. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin