Brandon Twp – In a land use nuisance battle spanning more than two years, thacze township won court approval to demolish the ruins of a Quonset hut on Legault Boulevard.
In April, neighbors who currently overlook the twisted mangle of boards, concrete, and medal at 1976 Legault Boulevard, will see vacant land at 1076 Legault Blvd, in Brandon Township.
After giving property owner, Shelby Township resident John Sloan, ample time to build a home, and to either use or remove the tons of broken concrete. Circuit Court Judge Richard Kuhn ordered the mess to be removed.
‘We have, and enforce, land use violations to promote and sustain property values in the community,? said Tim Palulian, Director of the Brandon Township building department.
More than three years ago Sloan purchased the property with a Zoning Board of Appeal approval to leave the existing Quonset hut as long as Sloan builds a house on the property within two years of purchase.
Shortly after Sloan purchased the property, according to Palulian, he hauled in several piles of broken concrete for what he claimed was to be used as landscaping material for a pond he dug.
Sloan also moved half of the Quonset hut, in what he told Palulian would be preparation to begin construction of the home. Architectural plans were approved to include the Quonset hut within the structure of the house.
Although Sloan made an attempt to build the house, Palulian said work on the property stalled and the original allotted construction time-limit lapsed.
After several fruitless attempts to encourage Sloan to move on the project, as well as fence-in the pond, and remove the concrete, the township petitioned the court for a land use violation, which would force the owner into action.
At that time Judge Kuhn gave Sloan three to six months to begin the house and move the concrete.
Sloan was also ordered to erect a fence around an extremely slopped pond, which he stated he was going to landscape with the broken concrete, according to Palulian.
Instead, Sloan left the pond exposed and created a substantial barrier, or berm, between the road and the Quonset. He moved the remainder of the concrete to inside the hut.
In the spring of 2003 a flurry of activity around the disheveled property, including the onset of construction of a house on the Quonset foundation, however an April storm twisted the hut as well as portions of the construction.
In a May court hearing, Palulian said the judge gave Sloan another 90 days to repair, side, roof, and window the structure. Palulian said the work extension was given by the judge, due to personal problems the owner was experiencing.
By August, Sloan had two-thirds of the house up, without the roof so the township gave him 30 days, beyond the judges ruling, to finish roughing in the structure.
After the township extension, newly placed roofing tiles indicated to Palulian that the homeowner was working on the home, however a November wind storm left the construction into a twisted pile and construction once again ceased.
‘It looked like a total loss for him,? said Palulian. ‘So we gave him another 30 days.?
‘Unless there are safety problems we try to work with property owners as much as possible, in a neighborly effort.?
On Feb. 11, 2004, Judge Kuhn issued a final order to permit the township to remove the remains of the home and accessory hut, clear the property of all debris, and fill in the pond because Sloan has not resumed repairs.
Agreeing with the judge who said ‘enough is enough,? Palulian said the neighbors, who have witnessed the evolution of the eyesore, have been more than patient with the township processing the resolve of the nuisance violation and it’s time now to remove the unsafe debris.
The township will accept bids until March 31 to remove the materials and back fill of the pond.