More than 400 members of the community supported 81-year-old Zandra Forbes-Roberts who fought City Hall over her gravel driveway and won. Staff photos.
An 81-year-old Long Branch widow will undergo less stress this Christmas after a City by-law infraction to pave her gravel driveway was quashed.
Zandra Forbes-Roberts , who lives on Walnut Crescent, received a hand-delivered mail last August 15 from City officials ordering her to pave her gravel driveway as it is an alleged by-law infraction.
“I am glad it is over. It was a lot of stress that I do not wish on anyone,” she said. “Having to deal with the City is not easy.”
The alleged infraction was rescinded on December 9 by members at a Standing Committee Zoom hearing.
Zandra and friend friend Shirley Clark (right) as they ready for successfully appealing a City bylaw that states gravel driveways are to be paved.
The long-time area resident has been living in the same house for about 50 years. The home is a former area cottage, with no basement, which was built in 1910 and still in good shape, she said.
“I am a senior living on a fixed income so the paving of the driveway will cause financial hardship, as it will cost between $6500.00 to $10,00,” Forbes-Roberts told a panel. “ I have always made every effort to maintain my property in good order.”
The case has generated a lot of attention with more than 430 people signing an online petition against the repavement.
She presented to City officials 38 photographs of homes in her area with gravel driveways.
“I am a senior living on a fixed income so the paving of the driveway will cause financial hardship, as it will cost between $6,500 to $10,00,” she told a panel. “ I have always made every effort to maintain my property in good order.”
Forbes-Roberts said the 110-year-old cottage home has had flooding issues and the gravel absorbs the excess water,
“I feel that I am being unfairly targeted, as there are approximately forty houses in my neighbourhood with gravel driveways,” she said.