your neigh

A few years ago, a
builder in West
Vancouver cut down
the trees on his neigh-
bours’ property.

He wanted to get an
ocean view from his lot and
improve the value of the
home he was building. The
logging was done on 3
Friday when most people
were away trom their homes
at work. Earlier, he'd been
told that the trees were
bevond his property line. He
got his view, but his neigh-
bours* back yards were
destroved. The wind now
whipped down the hillsides
over ugly stumps, where
protective old growth forest
once grew.

As you can imagine, his
neighbours sued — and
won. The court ordered the
builder to pay $100,000 in
“punitive damages” for his
blatant and deliberate
destruction of their trees, as
well as $33,000 to plant
replacement ones.

Fortunately, most of us
don't live beside people like
this who wreak major havoc
in our lives. But we might
have neighbour complaints
about things that irritate us
in smaller ways. For exam-
ple, perhaps the young cou-
ple down the block cranks

’ the stereo way up whenever
they have a party, keeping
you awake until 3 a.m. Or
your next door neighbour’s
poodle barks incessantly dur-
ing the day. Or your neigh-
bour’s yard is filled with
rusty automobile parts and
other old junk.

The question is: do you

have any legal rights to enjoy

peace and quiet and a tidy

neighbourhood? That
depends on where vou live.
Many municipalities have
bylaws dealing with noise
and untidy premises.

Ha neighbour is being
unreasonably noisy, try first
talking to the culprit. He or
she may not realize how
loud they are being. But if
that doesn’t work, call your
byhw enforcement officer. If
they can’t resolve the prob-
lem informally, they may
charge the person with
breaking the bylaw. If your
neighbour is hosting a very
loud party or otherwise
causing a disturbance, call
the police and ask them to
investigate. Your neighbour
may be guilty of committing
a criminal offence. Condo
owners can notify their strata
corporation; condominium
bylaws usually limit the
amount of noise a person
can make.

To deal with garbage,
weeds, and unsightly premis-
es, Most municipalities have
again passed bylaws.
Generally speaking, property
owners are expected to
maintain their homes and
gardens in a neat and tidy
condition according to a
standard in keeping with the
rest of the neighbourhood.
If your neighbour’s place is
an eyesore, call city hall.

They may order your

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neighbour to clean it up. If
vour neighbour doesn’t, the
municipality may do it and
bill your neighbour for at.

As for trees, vou're ustial-
ty tree to trim limbs or
branches encreaching on
your property. But the tree
must be lett intact: vou can’r
hack off so mueh that you
kill the tree. And make sure
you doa’t trespass on vour
neighbour's yard and snp
away at their trees!

Of course, if the preblem
is serigus —— an e\cavation
threatening the foundation
of your house — vou may
have to start a lawsuit
against vour neighbour,

— This coluinn is written
with the assistance of the

North Vancouver law firm of

Ratcliff > Company, Suite
500, 221 West Esplanade,
988-5201, The column pro-
vides information only and is
not to be relied on for legal
advice.

Wednesday, November 25. vues North Shore News — 29

‘CHRISTMAS CLEARANCE |

IPLANTS GALORE!

AT EATON’S PARK ROYAL SOUTH

i CHRISTMAS TREES & POINSETTIAS HAVE ARRIVED !

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE ROOM FOR THEM
SO EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN CENTER IS ON SALE |

| EVERYTHING IS 30% TO 50% OFF

WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE REST OF THE WINTER.
STOCK UP ON ALL YOUR NEEDS FOR THE GARDEN
AND GET YOUR STOCKING STUFFER'S EARLY!

at heer
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Trevor Lautens: every Friday on
page six in your North Shore News.

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Santa Breakfast

Saturday, December 5 - 8:30a.m.

Entertainment, food and fun, and of course

*

a visit by our special guest, Santa!

Tickets are available at the
Customer Courtesy Centre
(2nd level) with all
proceeds to the
Variety Club of B.C.
Adults: $3.00,
Children $2.00

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