THE NEWLY-completed report of the 320 Taylor Way Citizens Task Force has been mailed by the municipality to every household in West Vancouver District. The report, which criticizes West Vancouver District Council’s handling of the proposal for a controversial twin tower and res- taurant development at the southeast corner of Marine Drive and Taylor Way and comments on other aspects of the project, precedes the public hearing into the development, scheduled to start at 7:45 p.m., Monday, Sept. 19 at West Vancouver Senior Ser- ondary School. “Tl think Mayor Don Lanskail should be congratulated for his decision to do this... hope WEST Vancouver Ald. Mark Sager ...report not flattering to council. everyone will take the time to read the report,’’ Ald. Mark Sager said at Monday’s West Vancouver District Council meeting. Sager said the task force report is not necessarily flattering to council, but that it offers sugges- tions, as well as criticism. The 12-member task force, ap- pointed in response to public con- cern with the proposed develop- ment, has four mandates, starting with a review of the negotiation process that led to the leasing of the lands to Newcorp Properties Ltd., a company owned by the deCotiis brothers of the Viam Gioup. The task force noted that coun- cil had already recognized that an error was made in proceeding with calling tenders and negotiating a lease - based on 1981 public hear- ing guidelines - without consulting the public in the meantime. Insufficient time was allotted to potential developers to prepare proposals, the task force decided, because out of the 50 tender documents picked up, only four were received by Aug. 31, 1987 — two months later. The report also criticized council for not following the guidelines formulated in 1981 by, among other things, considering allowing the developer to build his parking garage three feet above grade without having the 46,000 square feet included in the floor-area ratio, which increases overall} building floor space by 17 per cent. The parking structure would also have its setback reduced from 60 feet to 30 feet from Marine Drive and Taylor Way, causing a loss of the site’s open character. Spaces such as lobbies and balconies might also be excluded from the floor-area ratio, if the proposed bylaw amendment were By MAUREEN CURTIS Contributing Writer passed - thus permitting a further 10 to 15 per cent increase in building area. According to the task force report, the public was not con- sulted on the increase of the 65- year lease established in the 1981 guidelines to the current 99-year lease. The task force also concluded that some of the contractual responsibilities to be taken on by the municipality, such as the building of a Marine Drive under- pass to access the parking Sot, should, instead, be taken on by the developer. Several of the financing ar- tangements were also questioned by the task force, and it was pointed out that if the developer failed to provide the necessary let- ters of credit by 1989, and the land reverted to the municipality, the district would incur considerable expense from legal fees and having the tand cleared. The municipality would also have lost its paying te- nant. The estimated $470,000 per year to be generated in taxes would be cut in half by levies to the school district and GVRD, the report said. e The task force’s third mandate was to look at the proposal’s design, view, traffic and financial impacts, Unlike some of the critics of the proposal, task furce members deemed apartment use as ap- proporiate for the site - more so than hotel, office or park use. But they concluded that the report on the development’s traffic impact was based on insufficient data and recommended a view impact study be initiated. Council was also criticized for failing to bargain for a reduced density for a lesser price, towards establishing a ‘‘sense of openness and moderate scale.”’ The task force was unanimously against allowing any portion of the proposed 200-foot high structure (228 feet including the pitched roof) to be higher than the Kapilano 100 building, which is 202 feet, including the equipment penthouse. They deemed the massing of the proposal ‘‘overwhelming,’’ the location of the restaurant on the location ‘‘inappropriate,’? and recommended all structures be placed as far away from Marine Drive as possible. “The opportunity exists to combine architectural excellence and economic reality, while cap- turing aesthetic possibilities and meeting community objectives,” the task force concluded. Included in the report was a “minority report’? submitted by task force member Thomas Reid, which was more critical and recommended council pay the ap- plicant’s expenses and maintain the present facility until necessary ap- provals have been acquired and a long-term development program be established. Reid recommended a short-term Jease of about 35 years be negoti- ated to allow the flexibility to use the land in the future, perhans for a third crossing to Vancouver. 3 - Wednesday, September 14, 1988 - North Shore News 10 fest follies THIS YEAR’S West Vancouver's Coho Festival proved to be the biggest and best yet. The weekend event included a Coho walk and run, an art contest, a special lottery, mall events, enterlainment, pancake breakfasts and more. Above, Art Ross adjusts his flowform kite at the festival’s Kite-Flying Contest at Ambleside Park. Below, singer Renee Collins soothes the crowd at an outdoor coacert also held at Ambleside. FLOATPLANE CRASH Cause of death still unknown From page 1 cardio-pulmonary resuscitation procedures in an attempt to revive the victim, who was transferred to St. Mary’s Hospital in Sechelt. But Duncan died later Sunday night at Vancouver General Hospital. Pending an autopsy, Gibsons coroner Dan Devlin said he had no preliminary indication for the cause of the victim’s death. A Canadian Aviation Safety Business . . .... 48 Classified Ads. . ...53 Doug Collins........... Comics.... Dr. Ruth..... Editorial Page....... Board (CASB) investigator has been examining the twisted wreckage of the floatplane. Pierre de Niverville, regional manager of the CASB, said Tuesday the board is currently interviewing witnesses. Parts of the Piper PA-18 floatplane, including the engine, will be examined at the CASB Richmond headquarters to ascer- tain the cause of the crash. A family friend said Bradwell is a longtime pilot. The friend said Lifestyles..............41 Mailbox ..... Sports ...... TV Listings.......... What's Going On...... Second Class Registration Number 3885 NEWS photos Neil Lucente the family had been spending the weekend on a Howe Sound island when the tragedy occurred. Duncan is survived by her parents, Caroline and Richard Duncan, her brother David and grandparents Douglas and Sybil Duncan. In lieu of flowers, dona- tions may be made in the victim’s name for a DPMRT intensive care monitor, care of Lions Gate Hos- pital, 23f East 15th Street, North Vancouver, V7L 2L7. ay A Ad Mostly sunny, Wednesday. High near 19°C. Thursday, sunny with cloudy periods. Chance of showers. Highs near 17°C.