Neighbours concerned over activity at West Brome property
Activities on a property located 4 Kuss Road in West Brome, a section of Town of Brome Lake, is at the centre of local buzz while several property owners in the immediate area question whether or not any or all of what is going on is permissible.
Recently purchased for $1.035 million, the 11.8-acre property is located on a branch of the Yamaska River and is recognized by the Quebec government as green zone.
According to the municipality, within 24 hours of closing the deal at the beginning of August, the new property owner, cited as (business # 9362-2207 with a listed address as 373-855 Rue Irène in Montreal, administrated by president and secretary, Benoit Carrière) was setting up for a non-agricultural activity in what is regulated as part of the green zone.
The neighbours on Kuss road were shocked. They had not been given notice of the impending activity and are alarmed by the disruption of their general harmony and quiet lifestyle. They are also wary of any negative impact to their local environment.
For the past several weeks trucks loaded with equipment have been unloading on the property that is alleged to being used as the locale for TVA to film a new program. The production team has already brought in a food truck and installed it in a meadow up the hill from the house. As well, a dock has been built, pergola included, into the stream just northeast of the house.
No permits for the construction and the nature of the activity have been issued.
Lillian Sharko lives in the area and has become everyone’s go-to person for neighbours. She was told that when neighbours went to see what was going on they were greeted by people there who said that they were a production
company. The person they spoke to said that he had been looking for a site specifically for this purpose and that he was connected to TVA.
Sharko says that, “The people living here are here because it is zoned as residential and agricultural, lending to a peaceful and tranquil lifestyle without the interference of inherent commercial or industrial activity.” Everyone is worried that this 12-segment series is not the only event that will be lined up to shoot on the same property or that this series could be the first season of many to follow. Sharko adds that, “If this kind of activity would be permitted on a regular basis in one specific locale, we would not have an issue. However, we bought here because it is agricultural. We are here for the peace and tranquility.” Sharko agrees, however, that nobody is against movies being filmed in the area, as long as they are working on location on a temporary basis.
The director of TBL’S land management, Lucy Edwards, is trying to determine the timeframe of the operation. To date, the owner had not applied for a building permit to install the stairs leading to the water’s edge or for the dock. She says that the pergola that has been installed must be removed but there is nothing to prevent the dock from being there. It is against municipal bylaws for that kind of pergola to be installed on docks. Edwards says that a notice will be sent to the CPTAQ (Commission sur la Protection des Territoires Agricoles du Québec) advising them that a property owner is conducting commercial activity on agricultural land. A follow-up visit this week by town inspector Justin Sultana is planned in order to make arrangements for a permit if allowable and to determine the timeframe of the production. Similarly, it is hoped that the CPTAQ will react in a timely manner.
Sharko is a real estate agent. She says that clients have to know that their intentions can be executed within the property they want to buy. It is up to the municipality and Quebec government to uphold the rules that have been legislated. The purchaser has an obligation to read the deed of sale that states a standard clause citing the use of the property.
According to Quebec real estate law number 405, through zoning bylaws the government regulates the development and use of land, and the general layout of all townships and municipalities. Zoning governs where buildings can be constructed, where residential subdivisions can be developed, and where schools, parks, and factories can be built. And a real estate professional, before buying, selling, brokering, inspecting, or investing, should know precisely the obligations of each party.
At publication neither purchaser nor vendor was available for comment.