2- _“— duly 26, 1998 ~ North Shore News

From page 4
ago, ending what she says was a violently abusive relationship with
the financial help of her family back in Belgium.

Faced with a choice of returning to Europe or staying in
Canada, ‘Tavernier chose Lynn Valley. Keeping her neat-as-a-pin
3,200 sq. ft home, applying for her citizenship and staying with
the fellow: ship of her church made sense to her.

“T love the neighborhood, the people, the church. It’s a goud
feeling for me, like I’m settling down.”

With her son attending school in Quebec, she had planned to
live in the basement suite she is building and rent out the rest of
the large home on Peters Road.

At issue is the length of her driveway and the number of cars
that can be accommodated in her front yard.

The district grappled with the thorny problem of secondary -

suites for 12 years before approving them last year. One of the
three majo: reasons for opposition to legalization was the addi-
tional parking problems created by more cars. (The other reasons
were noise, and the increased but untaxed demand on municipal
services like garbage collection.)

. To combar any potential parking problems, bylaw require-
ments say “a minimum of three off-street parking spaces are to be
provided on the property for. a single- family, stesidential building
containing a secondary suite.” .:.’

Tavernier figured she would rurn some of hier Jawn into what
she believed was the required third parking spot.

Building inspectors who Visited her home on March 27 and 30
_(at a cost’of $120) said nothing about a parking deficiency, only
thar she would need a parking space 18° 9” by 8°.9", Mentally,
‘she says, she applied that to the spot: she knew she would have to
install'on her front lawn.

“. Meanwhile, the inspectors. walked her through code require:
menis for plumbing and fire safety. ”
2° Tavernier fad no problem with any of the things: she was told
» she had to do. “Ifthe law says [ have to have four alarms all con-
nected and what the thickness of the | Bypsum Wallboard must be,
then that’s what we are going to put in.”

On April 21 she went to district hail t0. ee ‘when she could

raceed with her plans. tou
“Twas told I should have my peri in in'a few days, that every-

“EXPRE ESSION OF.
HAMERSLEY HOUSE AT 350, EAST 2ND STREET!

INTEREST

thing looked good and that 1
should pay another $166 as
part of the required fee.”

She did, but heard nothing
further in a month.

She contacted — building
supervisor Tim Arthur, who
knew nothing of her applica- - |
tion at the time but called back
a few days later to say she was
not going to get her permit, «

Arthur told the News that
his department had_ initially
accepted ‘Tavernier’s plans
showing three parking spaces -
without requiring a survey to
verify the measurements.

“We do try. to keep the
expenses down for our appli-
cants,” said Arthur.

It transpired thar
Yavernier’s front lot line does
not begin. where the sidewalk
ends but a couple of feet further back...

Arthur suggested she apply.to the disteicr’ 's board of v variance.

for a relaxation of the parking restcictions..- ~’
Tavernier did, at a cost of another $300, and discov cred t to her.

horror that'she faced another “defici ficiency? » The zoning bylaw also -

required “a minimum setback of five fect (i m) from a road or

- lane.”

Six months into the proces. Tav ernier says, this Was the first she
heard of a setback requirement and she still does not understand
exactly what it means,

Arthur says he is “right now” in the process of rewriting th

district’ s information package based on Tavernier’s and other’s ”

experiences.
She has one parking spot in a garage, ‘will install another in the
adjacent front yard and had assumed the div pWway! provided the
third.
“Eleven years ago this house» was “built ‘according to, the law.
Since then the driveway has not shrunk like a T-shirt in the laun-

po

: The, Corporation: ‘of. the City. of North Vancouver invites
; Expressions of. Interest in the purchase or lease of the
improvements and lands known as Hamersley House. The City
would like to‘hear from private individuals or companies and
public organizations that would be seriously interested in pur-

“ suing ‘negotiations for an agreement to purchase or lease.

» Responses should be submitted to the undersigned by 4:00
“P.M. Loval ‘Time, Wednesday, August 12, 1998.

‘An Information Package that includes an. historic background, ,
vsite rand. "Building description and the. evaluation criteria. is .
a yailable: through the Purchasing Department at’ City Hall,

- 14) West Mth Street, North Vancouver.

This i is only an inquiry ¢ as to the extent of market interest'and:
‘the City: -will not necessarily pursue negotiations to sell or lease
-.a8° a result: of this'inquiry., The City of North Vancouver.

: rese yes the. right to invite offers to purchase or lease for this
vk roperty: ‘from any of the respondents, any other party, or by
"way of public tender. Please direct all i inquiries to Ms. Melanie

o Jones, P

Property. Valuator/Negotiator at (604) 983-7306.

OF, W. Bruckshaw, Purchasing Manage

NEWS. photo Cindy Goodman

THERESA Tavernier 6 on the driveway that has resiitied i in “her falling short of her
aspirations to install a legal secondary suite in her North, Vancouver home." :

* dry,” she told a reporter who had parked his caron the ‘lisputed

driveway with no difficulty. The problem is char the’ back of
a small car is then very close’to the sidewalk

‘Arthur is not unsympathetic. Ls

a don’ t know what to say for her.

Pi rly restrictive.”

Meanwhile, ‘Tavernier is stuck berween gyproc and

‘place. é

Builders ees to finish her basen

ciency.
. Tavernier i is s hoping district councillors. “igh
tive covenant can be drawn up thar restricts an
to tenants with a single car.6 0”
‘Meanwhile she continues to worry,
“f want to go legal. Fwanr everything
want : 50 much and Tam n stuck with plans I cannot chinge.

510 Park Royal South
West Vancouver. -

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