Town Seizes Property and Serves Notice on Illegal Dwellings

The Town of Greater Napanee seized unsafe wood-burning appliances and served a notice to appear in court at a Bridge Street property on Thursday.

Officials from the Greater Napanee Fire Department (GFND) seized the unsafe woodstoves and served zoning and by-law infraction notices late Thursday afternoon. The GFND coordinated its actions with the Town’s Public Works and By-law Services departments as well as with the Ontario Provincial Police.

The actions took place following months of discussions, investigation and legal processes where the Town first sought to achieve compliance the owner of 1388 Bridge Street. The property currently has several dwellings the Town deems illegal as well as numerous property standards violations.

Through its actions Thursday, the Town will also be asking the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to grant it the authority to compel the owner of Bridge Street to clean up their property to comply with Town by-laws.

“The Town of Greater Napanee appreciates that there have been several deaths in Ontario due to fire in makeshift trailers over the past few years and is committed to preventing that from happening in our community,” said Fire Chief Shawn Armstrong. “Our legal obligations under provincial law are clear, and the expectation from Town Council that our bylaws are applied equally and fairly to everyone are being met.

“The Town has also informed the County of Lennox and Addington as well as authorities at Prince Edward and Lennox and Addington County Social Services that the individuals living on the property will need to relocate and may need their assistance to do so.”

The Town first began trying to achieve voluntary compliance on this property in 2024 and has taken numerous steps, including education and negotiation, to try to avoid litigation.

The Town of Greater Napanee expects to appear in court on the Bridge Street matter in the coming months.