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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS 95-05PICKERING REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Report Number: CS 95-05 Date: December 7, 2005 From: Gillis A. Paterson Director, Corporate Services & Treasurer Subject: Petition from Residents Surrounding 185 White Pine Crescent Recommendation: That Report CS 95-05 from the Director, Corporate Services & Treasurer be received for information. Executive Summary: Not applicable Financial Implications: Not applicable Background: At the November 7th Council meeting, Council referred Correspondence 2-05, (which is the petition from the residents surrounding 185 White Pine Crescent) to the Director, Corporate Services & Treasurer. In reviewing the petition there appears to be two issues which are: 1. The residents surrounding 185 White Pine Crescent are asking for property tax relief for 2005. 2. The residents are concerned about the vacant property and are wondering if anything will be done. Present Condition 185 White Pine Crescent On or around December 19th, 2002, the home located at 185 White Pine Crescent was substantially damaged by fire. An Order under the Building Code Act was issued by a City inspector in order to remedy unsafe conditions the remaining damaged structure represented. The owner complied with the Order and demolished the above grade portions of the building and capped the foundation in June 2003. The remaining foundation structure is now covered by a blue tarp. The owner applied for and obtained a building permit to rebuild on October 10, 2003, but did not undertake any construction. As a result, the building permit has now been revoked. During the past year, City By-law staff monitored the property periodically to verify that grass and weeds were kept under control in accordance with City By-laws. The City Report CS 95-05 Date: December 7, 2005 Subject: Petition from Residents Surrounding 185 White Pine Crescent Page 2 has no means to compel the owner to commence and complete construction on this property. Property Tax Relief The residents near this property (185 White Pine Crescent) have complained that due to its current condition this property has potentially reduced the surrounding property values in this neighborhood. Consequently, they are asking for property tax relief for their 2005 taxes. Paragraph two of the petition states the following: "This decreases the values of the market for the re-sale or sale of properties in this area." In other words, the petitioners are arguing that the current condition of 185 White Pine Crescent has decreased their property values. Taxation staff contacted Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) and asked them to revisit the assessment values for this neighborhood for the years 2005 and up coming 2006. MPAC staff reviewed housing sales transactions for this area and found no evidence from "market information" to indicate that these homes are over assessed. To put another way, current objective empirical evidence does not sug.qest a decrease in property values and therefore there is no negative impact on the surrounding property values. Many residents throughout Ontario do not agree with their property assessment values. Fortunately, the Assessment Act provides two tools for property owners who disagree with the assessment value of their property which are Request for Reconsideration (RFR) and filing a complaint to the Assessment Review Board. For the RFR process there is no fee and the residents would have until December 31,2005 for this year and December 31, 2006 for next year. Although the residents do have this option they may have limited success due to the fact the City has already asked MPAC to review its assessment values for these properties and the results of their review did not support a reduction. Another option is for these residents to file a formal notice of complaint with the Assessment Review Board (ARB) by March 31, 2006 for the 2006 taxation year. The ARB is an independent tribunal of the Province of Ontario. ARB hearings are like going to court and the property owners and MPAC will be asked to attend the hearing and to provide evidence to support their arguments. The Municipal Act provides for several tax tools to assist in the administration of property taxes. Sections 357 and 358 of the Municipal Act provide relief for property taxes under specific circumstatances such as demolition. Under the circumstance described in the petition we cannot apply Sections 357 or 358 to provide property tax relief to the petitioners. In addition, as part of the 357/358 process MPAC is required to provide a reduction in assessment value. Therefore, it appears based on the City's earlier request for MPAC to review these property values, MPAC would probably not reduce the corresponding assessment values for these owners. Report CS 95-05 Date: December 7, 2005 Subject: Petition from Residents Surrounding 185 White Pine Crescent Page 3 This report has been reviewed by the City's Chief Building Official and the Manager, By- law Enforcement Services. Attachments: 1. Petition Prepared By: Approved / Endorsed By: Stan Karwowski Manager, Finance & Taxation Gillis A. Paterson Director, Corporate Services & Treasurer GAP:vw Attachment Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council ;2' ., ~; / 7,f~mas J. O~,/nn, Chef Admin~ve O'f~cer j...,.- PETITION · CORR. 2-05 ,<TTACHMENT #_L__TO REPORT# We the undersigned residents in Ward 3. in the CiD~ of Picketing, on on Valley Ridge Crescent, are protesting the increase in house taxes for the year 2005, due to the fact of the circumstances of the house which sits directly in close proximi~' to our properties on Valley Ridge Crescent ancVor White Pine Crescent. This house fire occurred on December 19, 2002 and as of this date, there seems to be no attempt by a builder for it to be re-built. This greatly decreases the values of the market for the re-sale or sale of properties in this area. It also esthetically does not present a good impression to people wanting to purchase an&'or move into the area v,4th young families. We moved into this area from many different regions of Ontario hoping to have a quiet peaceful neighborhood free from crime and break-ins which have increased substantially this last year. We have heard no feedback from proper authorities as to what is being done in this regards. 9 Name Address Si NalTle Address Signatures