Two more residents of Brookhaven Crescent, an estate residential development off B Line in East Garafraxa, are calling for a township property standards bylaw that would enforce the orderly care of gardens as well as of buildings.

Morris Greener and Rudy Toering, along with Ian Rasmussen, have been trying in vain to have the property at 18 Brookhaven brought up to community standards.

They say it is an eyesore that appears to be abandoned — an unfinished mini-mansion with untended, weed-infested grounds amid immaculately groomed yards along the rest of the crescent.

There have been reports of a rodent infestation, says Mr. Rasmussen, and a school bus drop is right in front of the house, a potential safety hazard.

The problem, according to township officials, is partly that East Garafraxa does not have a property standards bylaw, and partly that it cannot force builders to speed up construction as long as there is some work in progress.

"We followed up on this matter with our Chief Building Official who advises that the dwelling to which you refer is progressing, that the building has been dry-walled and is ready for paint, and that the owners are working on it, and that as long as there is progress, although slow, there is nothing more they can do," says township CAO Susan Stone in an emailed response to inquiries from Mr. Toering.

"The Township does not have a Property Standards Bylaw, and the Township Subdivision Agreement with respect to this subdivision does not specify building time lines; that is contained in the Developer/ Landowner Agreement, which is not administered by the municipality. Therefore, I am copying this email to Mr. Gould, who is the Developer."

"This is too funny," said Mr. Greener in an emailed comment to Mr. Rasmussen.

"So, if there is any progress at all, regardless of how slow, nothing changes. This is totally open-ended and leaves tons of leeway, so long as this progress has no measurable criteria over time.

"Looks to me if they drive one nail in the wall annually, they'll be free to leave the place virtually as is for the rest of your natural life," he says.

"On the positive side, at least you have nice quiet neighbours on one side of you. Almost makes cutting their weeds worthwhile," Mr. Greener quips in allusion to the fact that Mr. Rasmussen had mowed most of the front-yard.

He suggests that the residents shouldn't look for any quick solutions but rather should head up a delegation to press the township to enact an appropriate bylaw.

"You should head up a delegation at council insisting a new bylaw be passed so that this type of unacceptable situation could be dealt with. Right now, there seems to be no easy resolution strategy," he writes.

Neither builder Jerry Iwaski nor developer Max Gould could be reached for comment, but he is a well-known developer in the Brown's Farm area and Waldemar.