Former TV weatherman Darr Maqbool says he’ll go to jail before abiding a city order to rip out his basement kitchen.
For eight years, Darr Maqbool was a local TV meteorologist. His signature, immaculately coifed beard and affable personality won over many Calgarians. In 2002, Fast Forward Weekly readers voted him Calgary’s Sexiest Man.
Now, six years after leaving his TV gig, Maqbool may be, unwittingly, rebranding himself as a property rights crusader after city bureaucrats recently ordered him to tear out his basement kitchen. Just don’t call him a martyr.
“I’ve got a life to lead,” he says. “I don’t need exposure in this city. I’ve already got that. That is not the point.”
The point, or rather the events that led up to this point, goes back about three years, when Maqbool renovated his Edgemont home basement. Since leaving Environment Canada in 1995, Maqbool has run a meteorological consulting business out of his home.
His job often sees him starting work at 3 a.m. — long before his family wakes up. Rather than clang around at odd hours disturbing his family, Maqbool turned his skeleton basement into a cozy, $60,000 office space — which includes a full $30,000 kitchen.
“I just didn’t want to disturb the people around me, so I moved (my office) into the basement,” he says. “I even sound insulated the whole thing.”
He has the proper business, electrical and plumbing permits. He even got a building permit. But there’s a problem. Late last year, a neighbour lodged a complaint with the city, saying Maqbool’s home has more than one dwelling — a no-no in a neighbourhood designated RC-1, or contextual single dwelling.
As the city sees it, and as the law is written, Maqbool’s basement kitchen is illegal. In April, city inspectors visited Maqbool’s home, taking pictures of the entire house (much to Maqbool’s displeasure), followed by a notice to tear out most of his basement kitchen.
A subsequent letter from the city’s development inspection department demands the “lower cabinets, countertop, sink and faucets, stove and service to it, and any/all other cooking facilities including a microwave oven” be removed by May 24.
“In this case from our information it was clear that a building permit was applied for a basement addition,” says Marc Halat, manager of compliance services for the city. “Based on our observations that our inspectors made, what I saw from the photos was an illegal dwelling unit.”
Maqbool is willing to remove the oven and microwave — but that’s it. Then his anti-authority streak, developed as a kid growing up under racist colonial rule in Kenya, kicks in. He stops short, barely, of telling city hall “peons” to suck a lemon.
On May 24, city inspectors again went through Maqbool’s home, taking more photos and avoiding the media. Inspectors refused to start their work until Fast Forward Weekly’s photographer stepped outside Maqbool’s house, telling the photographer that he hadn’t “gone through the proper channels,” even though Maqbool invited him into the home.
Afterwards, city inspectors told Maqbool the matter would likely be handed over to city lawyers. If the city pursues legal action, Maqbool faces a maximum fine of $10,000 and could still be ordered to remove the kitchen.
“This does not have to happen,” says Halat. “This can be avoided very easily and I think that would be the desire of all of us.”
Despite the warnings and legal threats, Maqbool isn’t budging. “This stuff ain’t coming out under my watch,” he says. “They can take me to court. It’s against my principles. Let’s cut to the chase. Throw me in jail. I’m not going to pay any fine.”
Comments: 16
early-bird wrote:
on May 26th, 2011 at 2:09am Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
on May 26th, 2011 at 5:28am Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
What I could think of is joining or uniting to contribute and build up financial strength. From there, we can have enough money to hire lawyer for helping us fighting for our right we were granted by our constitution.
For the time being. They really want to destroy me. So, no law will protect me. But if anything happen to you, you should know even your house is in R1, which is single family community. The city bylaw still allow you to share your home with up to 4 others person.
Anyway, I will watch out for response from people in same situation to response. if enough, we will work on it.
on May 31st, 2011 at 2:52am Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
This is a group of lawyers that once one of our member getting in unconstitutional attack from SHIP /Safe Housing Inspection Program (a conjuncture of City Fire Department and Alberta Health Department). As we pay for our membership, the lawyers could look into the situation and working on our behalf. I will post my new set up email here soon if FFWD allows me to.
on May 31st, 2011 at 3:40am Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 4:08am Report Abuse
Ron wrote:
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 2:59pm Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 3:05pm Report Abuse
Reformed Bureaucrat wrote:
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 4:52pm Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 6:17pm Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
Here is the email address you can contact me.
mysweethome@hotmail.ca
on Jun 2nd, 2011 at 9:24am Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
One reminder for all. "Nothing is for free even your Freedom."
on Jun 6th, 2011 at 2:14am Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
on Jun 7th, 2011 at 3:05pm Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
on Jun 7th, 2011 at 10:06pm Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
One more note here, the reasons there are 2 ties that defines areas for Canada Health Services to serve (or to prove their power):
1) Public areas: Where anyone that belongs to this society can walk right in and ask for service and expect to be served. That's where CHS can walk right in and serve, "serve".
2) Private areas which is mainly consists of " homes" that is LOCKED to the public except very limited number of people that are allowed to get through by the property owners.
There are reason for limited access to Health Service unless, yes to be granted by a court order or by the request of the owners: Because the Canada constitution aware of citizens' right to be respected and right to their privacy, and their rights to be safe from unnecessary bullying and unrightfully attack by abusive government officers. _That is to highlight to the world: Our superior high standards and honourable society.
Letting citizens to be abused unnecessarily is not the intention our Canada constitution expects to happen to its citizens, not even that would be supported to happen aboard by our constitution if it could decide. I strongly believe.
My case, I was handcuffed because I claimed for correctional service should not be contradict to any act that stated in Canadian constitution. Why CHS get through and get the court order to raid my place is another story I will public at the right time.
on Jun 8th, 2011 at 1:16pm Report Abuse
tshowell wrote:
OK, enough is enough. I'm fine with readers adding insightful commentary and debating on the stories we publish.
However, I (and I'll hazard a guess our readers as well) can't make heads or tails as to what you are rambling on and on about. And our website certainly isn't the place for you to "publish your notes." That's what diaries and blogs are for.
So feel free to comment on our stories, but please, stay on topic. You may have a right to free speech, but it doesn't mean you have a right to use our website as your soapbox.
Thanks,
Trevor Scott Howell
Web editor
on Jun 8th, 2011 at 3:31pm Report Abuse
early-bird wrote:
on Jun 8th, 2011 at 6:48pm Report Abuse
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