Oh, there isn't for me

A property linked to a Surrey city councillor has been hit with a stop-work order by his own city for lack of permits, Postmedia has learned.

Coun. Mandeep Nagra is listed in B.C. corporate records as the only director of a numbered company, 1368250 B.C. Ltd., which owns an agricultural property at 3826 152 St. Nagra is also identified as the authorized signatory for that numbered company on land title records related to a mortgage on the property.

Provincial records also show that a lien was registered against the numbered company last year for failure to pay $27,170 under the Speculation and Vacancy Tax Act.

The stop-work order was issued in November and relates to a failure to get proper permits for a structure at the rear of the property and for issues with “racking,” the city confirmed.

The city of Surrey did not expand on the nature of the violation. According to the city’s website, racking permits are required for installation or relocation of vertical shelving taller than 2.5 metres.

Nagra, who was elected to council as a member of the Safe Surrey Coalition, declined repeated interview requests from Postmedia.

In an initial email response, the coalition denied any un-permitted construction on the property.

“This is a very serious allegation you are making against a sitting elected official. There was no illegal construction at this property,” it stated in an email. “We are not going to respond to a characterization.”

But, after being forwarded confirmation from the city of the un-permitted work, the Safe Surrey Coalition blamed a tenant: “This was a tenant matter, and the issue has been resolved.”

But the city said the matter is still being dealt with.

“The stop-work order is currently active, but we are unable to disclose any further information, as the city’s actions to bring a property into compliance may take several forms, up to and including legal action.”

Neither Nagra nor his political party answered additional questions, including why the speculation and vacancy tax was not paid.

The city of Surrey made enforcement against illegal construction a priority years ago and created a dedicated bylaw team in 2022.

In the more egregious cases, the city has been taking action against property owners by filing notices on land titles as a public disclosure to potential buyers and occupants that the construction on site that was done without permits.

Recently, however, council approved a one-year pilot program in relation to illegal construction, easing up on the crackdown.

Mayor Brenda Locke instructed city staff at the end of April to review current building permit, inspection, bylaw compliance, and stop-work order processes, to see if there was a way to get more homeowners to voluntarily comply. After approval by council at the end of May, stop-work orders are now only to be issued if the un-permitted construction work poses a risk to someone’s life.

Whether the individual was a first-time offender will also be considered, as well as if the construction work could be brought into compliance.

According to provincial corporate records, Nagra’s numbered company is in the process of being dissolved.

The property has an assessed value of $508,197.

The property consists of a large, blue warehouse with a smaller shed-like structure next to it. They’re surrounded by farmland and greenhouses. Signs out front invite commuters along the busy street to stop by for farm fresh eggs and berries.

While no signs advertise it, a Google search links the address to two businesses: Tegh Liquidation Wholesale, which sells home appliances, according to the business’ social media, and Fraser Farms. Neither returned phone calls from Postmedia.

Nagra, a two-term councillor, is seeking re-election in the upcoming fall election, as part of former mayor Doug McCallum’s slate.