Despite an impassioned plea to Richmond Hill Town Council, Maryam Mojtahedzadeh cannot change her address from 13 Breda Crt. to another number — so she is now looking to move out.
She had applied for the change believing the address had brought her bad luck, including being rediagnosed with cancer and the death of a loved one.
“All this [is] happening, and I don’t know why, and I am thinking, maybe [it’s] number 13,” said Mojtahedzadeh. “I am scared something will happen again.”
After rejecting her initial application, at a June 3 council committee of the whole (COW) meeting, council directed staff to provide a report explaining the town’s policy on address changes to Mojtahedzadeh, who speaks English as a second language. Although the town does not assign new homes with a 13 address, older homes with the number remain.
Planning commissioner Ana Bassios said that suffixes are not normally permitted on separate lots on Richmond Hill streets, but owners can appeal.
In this case, the decision went to the neighbours.
“She had to obtain in writing the OK from 11 Breda Crt. that she use 11A, and that wasn’t obtained,” said Coun. Nick Papa, whose ward Mojtahedzadeh resides in.
The house is currently listed for sale, which may have caused the neighbours to be indifferent.
“The next door neighbours either didn’t care or didn’t see the value in confusing the numbering system when 13 Breda Court is up for sale,” said local and regional councillor Brenda Hogg.
Hogg was the lone dissenting voice in even directing staff to compile the report, saying that it would set a bad precedent.
“I don’t want the message out there that we’ll waffle on number changes,” said Hogg.
In addition to her address change being rejected, council also refused Mojtahedzadeh’s request that the $482 fee paid to file the rejected application be repaid.
“Everyone wants to help, but we have a policy to stick to,” said Coun. Castro Liu. “The fee is not refundable.”
