In Saskatoon’s Nutana neighborhood, a three-storey house on University Drive, valued at $1.6 million, has been found to exceed the maximum height and width regulations for established neighborhoods by 1.4 meters. The violations were discovered during an inspection when the house was nearly completed, leading to a stop work order issued by the city.
Following an appeal by the current owners, Curtis and Rachelle Kelln, it was revealed that they were unaware of the size limit violations. Surprisingly, city staff, who conducted numerous inspections during the construction process, also failed to detect the discrepancies.
The Saskatoon development appeals board ultimately upheld the regulations, stating that relaxing the standards for the house would go against the zoning bylaw’s purpose. Jonathan Naylor, president of the Varsity View Community Association, supported the decision, emphasizing the importance of regulations to prevent negative impacts on neighboring properties and green spaces.
While pleased with the ruling, Naylor expressed surprise at the oversights by the previous owner and city inspectors. Douglas Tompson, a neighbor near the property, also welcomed the decision but raised concerns about unresolved issues. Both Tompson and Naylor speculated that the matter might end up in court due to its complexity.
The Kellns are now considering their next steps, with the possibility of appealing the board’s decision to the Saskatchewan Municipal Board within the next 30 days. They have indicated that removing the house’s third storey would be impractical and costly, requiring a complete demolition and reconstruction.
The fate of the house remains uncertain, with stakeholders awaiting further developments in this ongoing saga.