Police thwart developer’s bid to block road

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This article was published 02/11/2015 (3918 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A number of residents in Oakridge Estates awoke to find a series of confusing memos in their mailboxes last Wednesday morning.

The first memo, titled “City of Brandon Bullying,” was signed by Oakridge’s former developer, Barry Andrews, and announced the impending closure of access roads into and out of the North Hill development.

Andrews is currently involved in a court case with the City of Brandon over land he still owns on the residential development and last week, he aired his apparent frustrations with the neighbourhood.

“Until this matter is resolved I have no other option … than to stop traffic from trespassing on my property,” read the memo, a copy of which The Sun obtained from an area resident.

The former developer owns a strip of land that has two roads, Bell Avenue and Outback Drive, running through it.

In last week’s memo, Andrews alleges the city has refused to give him fair compensation for the use of his land and would therefore be blocking anyone attempting to trespass.

The Brandon Police Service intervened before Andrews could succeed in blocking traffic on Outback Drive on Wednesday.

“He was preparing to erect a gate across the street in the hopes of charging a toll to enter the area,” said BPS Sgt. Kevin McLean, who added that city representatives were also present and the incident was deemed a civil matter.

Oakridge residents received a second letter on Wednesday from the city apologizing for Andrews’ memo and assuring residents traffic would not be disrupted.

“The City of Brandon disputes the allegations made by Mr. Andrews, and will swiftly oppose any threatened action of Mr. Andrews to interfere with regular access to and from Oakridge Estates,” read the letter signed by Scott Hildebrand, Brandon’s city manager.

According to a statement from the city on Thursday, the parties involved met on Wednesday afternoon and reached an agreement on how to resolve the matter.

The city declined to comment further as the matter is currently before the courts.

In 2009, Andrews — acting as president of Executive Homes 2000 Ltd. — received approval from the city to develop Oakridge, a 61-acre parcel of land off 18th Street North.

In March 2012, Andrews sold the development, while it was still under construction, to Waverly Developments for $3.1 million.

Following the sale, issues with the original development agreement arose between Andrews, the city and Waverly.

Terry Stouffer has lived in Oakridge for nearly two years and says Andrews’ notice didn’t shock him because he has known about the legal issues since moving in.

“It’s kind of surprising it hasn’t been sorted out considering how long this development has been in progress,” Stouffer said, adding that the problems between Andrews and Waverly have personally caused him grief.

“(It) caused a land title complication when I built this house … it forced me instead of pouring concrete in October to do it in December and probably cost me $10,000.”

The Sun reached out to Andrews for comment multiple times and received no response.

@02 End of Story Credit:» ewasney@brandonsun.com,

with files from Matt Goerzen

» Twitter: @evawasney