Clarington taking additional action to address urgent safety concerns at former Goodyear lands

The Municipality of Clarington is taking additional actions to address safety concerns at the former Goodyear lands in Bowmanville, following the property owner’s continued non-compliance with municipal orders. 

As noted in previous public updates, Municipal staff have been working with the property owner for some time to advance the safe demolition of the main building and secure the site. The building had been declared unsafe and ordered to be demolished; however, the owner has appealed to the Court challenging the order. Clarington Emergency and Fire Services also previously prosecuted the owner for non-compliance with orders to secure access to the building; however, those charges were dismissed by the Provincial Offences Court. 

In connection with the Court matter, the Municipality’s outside legal counsel retained a structural engineer to review the safety of the site. On August 4, the engineer attended the site with Municipal enforcement Staff; and the assessment confirmed significant safety concerns, including deteriorating building conditions, unsecured areas of the property, hidden site hazards, and evidence of unauthorized access and unlawful work being conducted on site.  

Based on the most recent assessment, the property owner was ordered to post 24-hour security on site with a deadline for compliance of August 9. As this order was not obeyed, the Municipality has arranged security for the site and will seek to recover the costs from the owner through the Court process. This 24-hour security is active as of today, August 11. 

Further, the Municipality is proceeding with an urgent Court injunction to authorize the Municipality to do all things necessary to make the property safe (including demolition), and seeking to recover the cost from the owner.

The Municipality of Clarington will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. 

"The safety of our community is our top priority. While this property is privately owned, the Municipality will continue to use every available legal and regulatory tool to address serious safety concerns and hold the owner accountable for complying with municipal orders. Our staff have exhausted numerous enforcement measures and, while following due process, are continuing to pursue appropriate legal and regulatory remedies to ensure the site is secured," said Mayor Adrian Foster