Correspondence regarding Noxious Bushes and Weeds
A complaint from Strata VIS 4909 regarding a blackberry infestation on the adjacent Island Corridor Foundation property.
September 19, 2022
To the Honourable Mayor and Council of the Town of View Royal
I am hopeful you can help our strata. Our strata VIS 4909 was established in 2000. I am very new to the President role, although I have been President in the past. I am an original owner having been a resident of the strata for more than 20 years. The issue I wish to address has been ongoing for several years with no resolution regardless of several attempts on our behalf to contact the owner of the adjacent property.
As I am sure you are aware the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) was established in 2003. Their purpose is to preserve and use the Corridor in perpetuity as one continuous corridor to connect and benefit all Island communities and First Nations along the corridor. The ICF is an adjacent neighbour of our strata at 126 Hallowell Rd.
I have had an opportunity to review some of the by-laws required of real property owners in the Town of View Royal. When I reviewed the bylaws I saw no exemptions for not for profit property owners.
Bylaw 5.3 states: property owners must “5.3 Keep Property Clear of Brush and Noxious Weeds. Owners or occupiers of real property or their agents shall keep their property clear of brush and noxious weeds”
The ICF’s property is directly adjacent to our western side. On the western property line, we have a cedar hedge that is approximately 400 feet long and 8 – 10 feet high. The east side of their property is infested with blackberry bushes. The blackberry bushes are encroaching on our property and growing through the cedar hedge. In the past a couple of owners have undertaken to remove the blackberry bushes for 3 feet back onto their property. This was heavy physical labour. The owners no longer have the physical ability to undertake this work. We recently got a quote for a labourer to undertake this work. The cost quoted was $1800. We do not have these funds in our budget, nor do we think we should have to pay for upkeep of a neighbours property.
Over the years we have repeatedly approached ICF to request they deal with the blackberry infestation. They sympathize and take no action. I am writing to request the town’s assistance in holding the ICF to the same standards as other property owners in the town of View Royal. Ideally, we would like a 3 foot clear area behind out cedar hedge to prevent it’s destruction by the blackberry infestation. This is not a one-time issue unless the blackberry bushes are completely removed.
I look forward to hearing from you.
If you have any questions or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at either or
Cc: Town of View Royal bylaw officer Cc: Island Corridor Foundation