'We're stuck': Winnipeg family's renovation stalled by permit issues
A St. Norbert family hoped their basement renovations would be wrapping up by midsummer, but a series of permit-related issues have stalled the project.
The framing is up, the water is running, and the lights are on; however, renovations in Ryan Kirkness' basement are at a standstill.
"Our renovation has been on hold since mid-April, so we were hoping this was all, not all, but a good portion was going to be done for summer,” Kirkness said.
Kirkness bought the St. Norbert bungalow in 2005.
Now, with his two daughters reaching their teenage years, Kirkness decided it was the perfect time to renovate the basement.
"Two bedrooms for the girls to come downstairs, redo the laundry room, and the big thing would be a new washroom,” he said.
In April, Kirkness sent in permit applications for a basement renovation, including plumbing and electrical.
He was also aware he would probably need a waterway permit due to the property’s distance from the Red River.
"The waterway permit is made to protect the riverbanks, the flow of it, that type of thing,” Kirkness explained.
However, Kirkness was informed he needed an additional permit to meet code --- an issue compounded by flood protection requirements.
One issue has to do with the need for basement-level bedroom windows that must be large enough to exit in the event of an emergency.
To meet those regulations, Kirkness would need a costly engineer’s report to show expanded windows would not increase flood risk to the property. By his estimation that report would add thousands to the renovation cost.
He argued, if flood waters did reach the house – which hasn’t happened since 1997 --- it wouldn’t matter what kind of windows were in place.
"If the water's coming on the flood, it doesn't matter if it’s this high or this high. It's going to come in,” Kirkness said.
In a statement, the city said if proposed work falls within the floodway fringe area, then homeowners are responsible for meeting the requirements of the designated floodway fringe area regulation.
“The city is not obligated to approve permits where requirements for floodproofing have not been met. This protects the dwelling, neighbouring buildings, and future homeowners,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier this month, Kirkness withdrew the structural permit application for the window change, but is still waiting for the other permits to be issued.
"As for now, we're stuck. Our total renovation's on hold,” he said.
Kirkness said the whole situation has been a disappointing learning experience.
"I was doing it with the permits. I was doing it the right way, and so many people have always told me, the city's so tough to deal with. Just go do it on your own. Don't bother. And I was hoping to say, ‘Nope, it actually worked out really well.’ I can't,” he said.
Because he withdrew the window permit, Kirkness said the bedrooms will now be used as office space.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6960133.1720721138!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'A terrible tragedy': 4 dead in another multiple-fatality B.C. crash
A crash in Keremeos, B.C., Wednesday morning is the latest in a string of fatal collisions, this time claiming the lives of four people, Mounties say.
WATCH LIVE Biden faces big press conference, flubs 'Putin' for 'Zelenskyy' in praising Ukraine leader
U.S. President Joe Biden opened his highly anticipated press conference Thursday with a recitation of his NATO accomplishments during the summit this week as he faced growing calls to withdraw from the presidential race.
Trudeau says he still has 'full confidence' in Freeland, but has been talking to Carney
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he continues to have 'full confidence' in Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, but he's also been talking to Mark Carney about entering federal politics.
'An avoidable tragedy': Calgary woman charged after dog dies in hot car
A Calgary woman is facing charges for the death of her dog, which died after being left in a hot car on Canada Day.
Oilers star engaged to marry girlfriend after proposal in Spain
Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl is engaged to be married. The 28-year-old centre proposed marriage to his girlfriend, actor Celeste Desjardins, who said yes. Both posted about the engagement Thursday to their Instagram accounts.
Benji Gregory, former child star on the '80s sitcom 'ALF,' dies at 46
Former child actor Benji Gregory, who played the young boy on the 1980s television sitcom 'ALF,' has died in suburban Phoenix. He was 46.
Shelley Duvall, actress and iconic 'The Shining' heroine, has died
Shelley Duvall, the intrepid, Texas-born movie star whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining,' has died. She was 75.
Mother of the 'miracle baby' found crawling by a highway faces a murder charge in older son's death
Three days after a 4-year-old boy's body was pulled from a southwest Louisiana lake, and two days after the child's 1-year-old brother was rescued while crawling beside an interstate highway, Louisiana authorities announced a murder charge against the children's mother.
McGill University on consequences for students, divesting after pro-Palestinian camp dismantled
McGill University says it hasn't ruled out expelling any students involved in the pro-Palestinian encampment on its campus.