‘Not as scary as you think’: Ask before you build, town staff say

Fort Erie building department staff left town hall on Tuesday to answer permit questions at Turkstra Lumber in Ridgeway, hoping to show homeowners the town is less intimidating than they thought.

Staff explained permit requirements for home improvement projects at the lumber store on Gorham Road and pointed homeowners to grants that help pay for additional dwelling units. The town served free roast beef on a bun and salad to bring residents in.

“The town in general is not as scary as you think,” said Town of Fort Erie building and plumbing inspector Jordan Clarke. “We’re here to help.”

Clarke said most residents asked about building an additional dwelling unit (ADU), which adds a second self-contained home to a property, while others asked about smaller accessory structures.

“We have some ADU grants available for additional buildings,” said Town of Fort Erie building and plumbing inspector Alex Pante, who answered questions alongside Clarke. “Sometimes people have no idea–they just want to build.”

Fort Erie council adopted the Additional Dwelling Unit Grant in February 2025 as part of its Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan. According to the town, the one-time payment helps homeowners add an apartment to an existing house or to a detached building on their property.

The town’s affordable housing grants pay up to $20,000 per eligible property or project.

Wayne Otten, the store’s manager, told Fort Erie Radio the town asked to hold the session at Turkstra.

Pante said residents with more questions could visit the building department on the second floor of town hall at 1 Municipal Centre Drive, where Clarke said staff accept walk-ins, or find information on the town’s website.

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