THE FIRST public hearing on the Park and Tilford shopp- ing centre proposal is to be held this summer after North Vancouver City council Monday gave the nod and accepted a schedule that could see the November. But one alderman charged that allowing the $25-million BCE Development Corp. shopping cen- tre plan to go ahead throws the ci- ty planning efforts into chaos. “It represents the abandonment of the planning efforts of the ci- ty,’’ charged Ald. Dana Taylor, a longtime cpponent of any com- mercial use on the industrial-zoned property. “Tt throws into chaos these planning efforts to date,” Taylor told council. Approval of the plan, which in- cludes a 70,000-square-foot Save-On-Foods store and a project approved as early as By STEPHEN BARRINGTON News Reporter 30,000-square-foot Cineplex Odeon cinema complex, is ‘‘con- demnation to economic oblivion’ for many longtime city merchants, an angry Taylor said. ‘*®& Save-On-Foods we need like we need a hole in the head,” said Ald. John Braithwaite. ‘‘I’m con- cerned with the smali shopping areas like Queensbury.” “They'll be gone in one week if this development goes through,’’ he added. A Cannell Studios proposal to IMPACT ON BUSINESSES istrict edgy over VISIONS OF impending traffic chaos and the commercial death of existing’ North Shore businesses had North Van- couver District Council scrambling for input and response to the Park and Tilford site development proposal currently being considered by North Vancouver City Council. The latest incarnation of the Park and Tilford site redevelop- ment comes with a $45- million pricetag, is slated to include a $25- million, 175,000 sq. ft. .:opping centre including a 70,000 sq. ft. Save-On-Foods and a $20-million film studio. It could be open for business by as early as the middle of next year. District council had initially asked city council in a letter dated Oct. 7 to respond to specific district concerns regarding the im- pact of the proposed new commer- cial space on existing commercial development in North Vancouver, address concerns about road im- provements necessary to handle increased traffic volumes generated by the development, keep the district apprised of the status of the proposed development and undertake a joint study with the district to examine the economic and traffic implications. City council responded Oct. 21 informing the district that city council instructed that the district “letter be received and filed.” “The letter showed arrogance — the city is not some island affoat in the Pacific,’ blasted Aid. Bill Rogers. Mayor Marilyn Baker said the city should do more than ‘“‘receive and file’’ district concerns regar- ding the development. ‘I do believe there is a responsibility of the city to respond just as we would if we were involved in a ma- jor development on the border of the city.”” Ald. Joan Gadsby termed the development proposal ‘‘folly’’. “Although the studio will mean new jobs, a major commercial development would be a net loss in jobs to both the city and district,” she said. ‘The Save-On-Foods impact on Marine shows how many jobs have been lost. We’ve lost Capilano Village Market, a By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter Super Valu and the Stong’s anchor at Edgemont Village.’”’ An economic study undertaken by the city last year concludes that commercial development on the site will adversely impact on some of the existing businesses in North Vancouver.. “This development is contrary to the community plan of the city not to speak of the merchants who have invested in areas that they thought were safe and guaranteed by virtue of community plans,’’said Alc. Ernie Crist. Council moved to instruct staff to commence analysis of the traffic impact of the development on district traffic patterns. In two further separate motions council moved to reconfirm a Jan. 5 motion encouraging the city to develop the Park and Tilford site as a combined gardens and film and movie production facility and also asked the city for a special meeting to address district con- cerns over the impact of the development. But city council’s first reading of the official community plan amendment bylaw for the development Monday gives the district, as stipulated under section $47(2) of the Municipal Act, 30 days to respond to the develop- ment proposal. A district staff report advises council that 30 days would not be enough time to respond to the “complex’’ proposal. District director of engineering services John Bremner told coun- cil, ‘tthe city should be strongly urged to do a full-scale traffic study by a qualified traffic con- sulting firm,’’ before going ahead with the development. build a 15-acre movie studio on a portion of the 30-acre site got a boost when council approved in principle tax breaks reducing the average yearly tax pricetag over three years to $260,658 from $402,103. Company president Michael Dubelko told council April 27 thai tax breaks were needed to make the $20-million movie studio an economically feasible venture. Treasurer-collector Kenneth Tollstam indicated in a report that even with 100 per cent municipal tax relief, the city would still benefit from the studio. “The city’s tax revenues will ex- ceed existing revenues for each year under the (provincial) part- nership (tax reliefy program and by 1991 when the program expires, municipal taxes will be almost 400 per cent more,”’ said Tollstam. 3 - Wednesday, May 6, 1987 - North Shore News RETAIL COMPLEX FLOUTS CITY PLANNING —°ALDERMEN The estimated 1991 taxes on the undeveloped 30-acre Park and Tilford site are $107,806. With 100 per cent municipal tax relief for the studio, the estimated 199] taxes on the fully developed prop- erty are $410,969, a hefty dif- ference. “We're not going to lose money,"’ Tolistam said in a later interview, ‘The taxpayers of the city are not going to have to sub- sidize (the film studio).”’ Including the entire site in the tax estimation was necessary, he explained, as Cannell Studios has said its plan hinges on the nearby shopping centre. “I think it’s a good deal in the long run,”’ Ald. Stella Jo Dean said of the tax plan’s approval. “In three years we’re going to be the big winners.’”’ Details of the tax breaks are to NV District would snap P&T chance, NV City Ald. claims IF THE Park and Tilford development were offered to North Vancouver District it would be approved ‘‘so fast your head would swim,”’ ci- ty Ald. Ralph Hail claims. News Reporter During debate Monday on the Park and Tilford development proposal, Hall blasted opponents who said the planned shopping centre would harm existing businesses. “Yes, there are business that have failed,’? Hall admitted, but noted another local business is always ready and waiting to step in and fill the vacancies. Ald. Stella Jo Dean agreed. ‘‘! don’t believe in a private enterprise where we have to protect one res- taurant from another or, say, one bookstore from another.”’ Council gave an initial approval to an official community plan change for the $25-million BCE Development Corp. shopping cen- tre and approved in principle tax breaks for a $20-million Cannell Studios film studio on the 30-acre property. As well, council approved a development schedule for the shopping centre plan that could see the project through the city plann- ing department by November. rm, Eek i “3 NORTH VANCOUVER City Ald Ralph Hall...‘‘so fast your head would swim.”’ “I think it shows we're prepared to get on with this,’’ Hall told council. A public hearing on the com- munity plan amendment is to be held this summer. “Tt gives us an opportunity to hear what the public has to say,” said Ald. Elko Kroon, who is the deciding vote on the controversial development plan. NM be presented at a future council meeting. Mayor Jack Loucks, who in the past has not supported a commer- cial development on the property, supported the public hearing “‘to get it out in the open.”’ At the hearing, he said, residents will have a chance to comment on the plan. Allowing for comments from the District of North Vancouver and the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, the public hearing on the official community plan changes could not be scheduled before June 15, said city clerk Bruce Hawkshaw. Officials from Cannell Studios and BCED hope to have the film studio open in June next year with the adjacent shopping centre open in October next year. Weather: Wednesday and Thursday, sunny. Highs near 25° C. INDEX Auto .............. 49 Business........... 18 Classified Ads.......46 Doug Collins........ 9 Editorial Page....... 6 Bob Hunter......... 4 Lifestyles .......... 37 Mailbex............ 7 Sports.............13 TV Listings.........45 What's Going On... .44