West Vancouver officials have ordered the demolition of a newly built structure on a private property that was constructed without any permits or inspections. The property, valued at over $6.7 million, includes a small home-like building in the backyard near a steep slope beside Brothers Creek.
The district mayor expressed surprise at the situation, saying it was unprecedented to see a home built without any permits. The owners of the unauthorized building did not attend a July 21 council meeting nor sent representatives. The council unanimously voted to require the demolition of the structure.
No permits were issued for the building, which lies in an environmentally sensitive creek area and a wildfire risk zone. The district’s director of planning confirmed that no building permits were ever granted, adding that the site is under strict regulations.
District staff first discovered the illegal building in mid-May 2024 after receiving a complaint about a large new structure on the property at 1145 Chartwell Crescent. A stop work order was immediately posted by a building inspector following a visit to the site.
The district’s planning director said the structure was built with no permits and no inspections, creating a serious safety risk. A council member questioned how such construction could happen unnoticed in modern times. The director explained that the district only acted after receiving a complaint and investigating.
Property records show the primary owners as Naib Gerami and Ayesheh Mansouri, with Omid Gerami and Kamran Gerami also listed as owners. Following the council’s decision, the owners were formally notified on July 25, 2024, that they must apply for a demolition permit and remove the unauthorized building.
By mid-August 2024, an environmental consulting firm hired by the owners completed a remediation plan. The plan calls for removal of the illegal structure and restoring the area with appropriate native plants to protect the creek environment.
The owners have so far been fined $14,800 for the unauthorized construction, but have only paid $500 of this amount.
The owners are currently involved in a legal dispute with Shahin Construction Ltd., the builder. The court case alleges the builder is owed over $148,000 for unpaid work on the property.
Court documents describe Naib Gerami as a businessman and head of Kirkstone Heating Ltd., Ayesheh Mansouri as a receptionist, Omid Gerami as a cardiologist, and Kamran Gerami as a manager.
The builder, Matt Minapour, said he was hired in April 2023 to build a gazebo on the property. The contract stated the owners were responsible for obtaining the required building permits.
Minapour stopped work in December 2023 when only 30 percent of the project was complete. He said the owners did not get permits despite repeated warnings, and the structure was growing in size beyond the original plans.
Minapour believes the owners intended to build a secondary home on the property. He said, “I think that’s the problem, yes. It’s a second house. That’s why I didn’t touch it once I realized.”
The builder says the owners finished the construction on their own after he left.
In a counterclaim, the owners and Kirkstone Heating Ltd. argue the builder falsely or negligently promised to obtain the permits and assured the project would comply with all bylaws.
Since the council’s July order, the owners have not communicated with West Vancouver officials about demolishing the unpermitted building within the required 60-day timeframe.
Mayor Mark Sager called the situation a waste and stressed the need to address safety concerns. “Nobody serves in public office wanting to force somebody to tear their home down, but there are safety issues here that have to be addressed,” he said.
