Sikh Temple construction raises RM concerns
Latest inspection raised no continuing concerns, Corman Park staff say
The Rural Municipality of Corman Park is considering its next steps after the most recent inspection of the site of a temple under construction that has been at the centre of enforcement actions to prevent people from occupying the building.
The RM took enforcement action in February 2017 after it learned that a camper trailer at the site was being used as living quarters and that the temple building itself, while still under construction, was being used for “non-construction purposes,” according to an administration report to council last month.
Administration staff documented and swore affidavits saying they saw people not related to the construction work entering and leaving the building, and that they saw children’s toys, clothes, suitcases, furniture such as beds and couches, food in fridges, other appliances and dirty dishes.
RM administrator Adam Tittemore said staff were concerned people were occupying the site before it’s safe to do so.
As part of the building permit process, inspectors visit properties several times, and during one of those inspections, there were “numerous signs” the building was being occupied while it was an active construction site, he said, adding that the RM doesn’t have specific information about who may have been sleeping there, or for how long.
“In general, our concern is that they were occupying it and it was particularly concerning that we were seeing children’s toys and things like that in there when it was prohibited to be occupied in any way except for the purpose of construction, due to public safety issues. So that was just an example brought forward to show the concerns we had,” Tittemore said.
Representatives of the Sri Guru Arjan Sikh Society were subject to an order of compliance dated Feb. 17, 2017.
After a first and second order, the building still appeared to be occupied, so the RM sought an order from Court of Queen’s Bench to stop occupancy, which it received in July 2018. The order won’t expire until the RM grants permission to occupy the building.
The RM has since requested a revision to the order’s wording to clarify whether it could be enforced by removing people from the building. The court has reserved its decision on that issue.
According to the RM, 28 physical inspections of the property have been performed by a third party, and “at least” 25 documented inspections have been done by the RM’S bylaw enforcement officer. According to the RM, it has incurred $29,000 in legal costs so far.
By January, much progress had been made at the construction site. Tittemore said there were still concerns about exit doors that were wired shut, a lack of safe entrances and exits from the building, and that the required fire and sprinkler systems were not commissioned and not working.
The Sikh Society, according to the report, suggested it wanted to partially occupy part of the temple while construction takes place elsewhere in the building. According to the RM, an official request has not been made.
The RM outlined 24 code deficiencies that it required be completed before it consider allowing partial occupancy, such as the completion of the fire alarm monitoring system and ensuring all fire alarms are mounted and installed.
Tittemore said the Sikh Society has done a lot of work in the last month or so on the list of compliance items, and the RM didn’t see any signs of occupation when staff were on site.
The Sikh Society did not respond to requests for comment.
It was particularly concerning that we were seeing children’s toys and things like that in there.