Town puts kibosh on resident looking to sell lot back

By Cole Parkinson
Vauxhall Advance
cparkinson@tabertimes.com

Note: The line ‘The lot is approximately 33 feet and does have a house on the lot’ has an editing error and should state doesn’t, not does. The Advance apologizes for any confusion.

A Vauxhall resident is looking to sell his corner lot within town limits and gave the town a chance to buy it back.

During Vauxhall town council’s regular meeting on October 16, councillors discussed whether or not they were interested in re-acquiring the lot in question.

“This has come to council before. It has come to subdivision to see what he could build on there,” said Mayor Margaret Plumtree.

The property in question is Lot 1A, Block 32, Plan 0110364 which is a full lot though it is just a single while many others in the area are doubles.

Those lots were originally built for a different purpose but they were eventually sold for houses.

“They were originally designed for duplexes and they weren’t selling. Council allowed them to be sold as a single lot so they have a numbering system that makes them look larger than they are. Each lot is individual,” explained CAO Cris Burns.

The lot is approximately 33 feet and does have a house on the lot.

“It was not purchased from the town, it was sold to someone else and he bought it from someone else,” added Mindy Dunphy, town office manager.

Council was less than receptive to buying the property back and was vocal in their opinion that the property wasn’t theirs to buy back.

“I don’t know that we’re in the business of buying back property,” said Coun. Ray Coad.

Others on council issued the same sentiments about buying the property back.

“If he does not like the lot, he should not have bought the lot. It’s that simple,” said Deputy Mayor Richard Phillips. “It is certainly not our problem that he doesn’t like the lot that he bought.”

A motion was made to decline the offer and was passed unanimously by council.

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