The Saskatoon development appeals board upheld regulations regarding a house in the city’s Nutana neighborhood that exceeds height limits. The three-story home on University Drive, valued at $1.6 million, surpasses the maximum allowed height by 1.4 meters and is wider than permitted. Violations were discovered during an inspection in May when the city issued a stop work order.
The current owners, Curtis and Rachelle Kelln, who acquired the property from the late developer Karl Miller’s estate, appealed the decision. They claimed ignorance of the size limits, as did the city staff who conducted inspections during construction but failed to identify the discrepancies.
Jonathan Naylor, president of the Varsity View Community Association, supported the board’s ruling, emphasizing the importance of regulations to prevent adverse effects on neighboring properties. Despite being pleased with the decision, he raised concerns about the oversight by the previous owner and city inspectors.
Douglas Tompson, a neighbor of the property, also welcomed the board’s decision but expressed sympathy for the current homeowners, labeling them as blameless victims in the situation. Speculations arose about the possibility of the matter going to court due to its complexity, with the option to appeal the board’s decision within 30 days.
The Kellns refrained from commenting on their next steps, indicating a potential challenge in altering the house’s structure to comply with regulations without significant cost implications.