KSAMC serves 14-day removal notice for illegal structure on Patrick Drive corridor reserve

The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has moved against an unauthorized structure erected within a protected city corridor reserve behind 84 Patrick Drive, as part of a wider push to uphold municipal rules and safeguard drainage land.

A corridor reserve is a legally designated strip of land running alongside a natural or artificial water drainage channel. Development, construction, and agriculture are prohibited in these areas because they are essential for drainage maintenance and flood protection.

City Engineer Xavier Chevannes and City Inspector Alrick Francis visited the site as a joint enforcement team and served the occupant a strict 14-day removal notice. Officials said the illegal structure and an accompanying hoarding were blocking access along the corridor reservation. A stop notice was issued, along with an enforcement notice requiring the occupier to dismantle all unauthorized erections and restore the space within two weeks.

Chevannes warned that failure to comply would prompt further action from the municipality.

Chevannes reminded the public that corridor reserves must remain clear of obstacles. He said encroachment puts operators at risk when water overflows its banks and urged persons who build on gully banks and drain edges to stop.

"If there's a hazard, corridor reserves should be kept free from any impediments," Chevannes said. "So, we will urge persons who encroach on gully banks and other areas along the drain banks to desist."

Francis appealed to residents across Kingston and St. Andrew to follow the laws governing life within the municipality.

"We can't just go around and do erection on roadside, sidewalk, or even gully reserve, because it is there for a reason," Francis said. "The gully reserve is here for a reason. The roadside and sidewalk is here for a reason. And so, we are here to ensure that the purpose is maintained."

The operation was carried out under the Building Act, with officials stating that municipal boundaries and environmental protections must be respected.