There are stripped wires all over the place — indicative of metal theft — along with used needles, Narcan kits and other trash
Langley resident Scott Thompson says he noticed a few months back that an out-of-the-way development property near his home was starting to pile up with debris.
When Thompson took a closer look a few days ago at the 1.2-hectare property at 20256 34th Avenue — which sold in May 2022 for $7.75 million and is now assessed at $8.44 million — he was shocked.
Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion delivered straight to your inbox at 7 a.m., Monday to Friday.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Sunrise presented by Vancouver Sun will soon be in your inbox.
“In the past three weeks that debris has doubled, and now it’s starting to spread into the Noel Booth (Elementary) School parking lot,” he said on Tuesday.
He said the debris seems to be a mix of construction-site materials and junk left behind by people using the soccer-field-sized property as a dump site for household waste. There are also indications that squatters are on the property, including drug users and thieves.
There are stripped wires all over the place — indicative of metal theft — along with used needles, Narcan kits and other trash.
“All the doors and windows are open and broken off, and everything is stolen from the house,” he said.
“When I was there the other day, two … individuals ran out of the house and jumped the fence.”
Thompson saw several makeshift fire pits around the property, and is pretty sure someone is squatting in the mostly intact basement space. He said it’s a good thing it’s winter or the whole property would be a fire waiting to happen.
And there’s more and more junk being dumped all the time.
On Tuesday, when Thompson was escorting a Postmedia photographer around the site, “a guy came around the corner in an old work van (full of junk). I think we surprised him. He was obviously there to dump.”
Thompson said he posted the eyesore to Facebook after finding out a local rule means he can’t report it to Langley Township bylaw officers.
“You have to live within 500 metres to make an official complaint,” he said. Thompson guesses he lives about 800 metres away.
Because he knows Langley Township Mayor Eric Woodward, he sent pictures of the mess to him on Monday.
The mayor said, “It’s the first I’ve heard of this. We’re on it,” said Thompson.
Postmedia reached out to Woodward on Tuesday but has not yet heard back.
Chamkaur Sandhu, who is listed as a director of property owner Golden Pillars 34 Developments, told Postmedia he hadn’t heard about debris piling up at the site and has not been contacted by anyone from the township. He said he plans to have a look Tuesday night and will have more information on Wednesday.
Thompson just wants the owner to clean things up.
“He lives just down the road. He’s got to go in there and board that place up or something.”
Otherwise, Thompson worries the dumping will keep getting worse.
“It’s so out of the way, nobody would ever go down that road unless they were going to dump something.”
Thompson said he doesn’t mind making a fuss when something like this is going on in his south Langley neighbourhood.
“They all know me (around here). I’m the a–hole of Brookswood,” Thompson said with a chuckle. “They know I’m not pissing around.”
Support our journalism: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 per week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.
-
A West Vancouver 'party home with a view' goes viral on Twitter
-
Langley Election Results: Eric Woodward defeats Rich Coleman in bid for mayor