Open letter to North
Vancouver District Council:
Concerns Process and
Procedure and the role of
Planning Department Staff.

During a recent council
meeting, a resident § was
explaining how he came to
clear-cut his lot in anticipation
of being granted a building
permit.

He stated he believed he
had been advised by your
planning department that
such action was acceptable,
though council met this con-
tention with skepticism.

The situation brought to
mind my recent dealings with
your staff regarding proce-
dures, process and status,
commencing March 26,
1997.

- While your staff is courte-
ous and tries to be helpful,
each person I spoke with had
different information as to
procedures, process and as to
the status of the application
respecting 964 Devon Rd.

There follows one recent
example of the frustration and
unclear “advice” I have

| received.

The nature of my inquiry
was (and still is): has a build-
ing permit been issued for
964 Devon Rd.?

Mr. Karakas has listed the
‘property for sale. The sale
price reflects “his hard work

“1934 Marine Drive ~
iat Pemberton}...
North Van.

MAIL Box

| Wrapped up in red tape

developing good relations
with the neighbors” and the
permit he has secured to build
a 4,400-square-toor dwelling.
The property is stated to be a
“developer's dream.”

After speaking with the
real estate agent, | immediate-
ly telephoned your planning,
department.

No one was available to
answer my inquiry. While 1
did leave my name and num-
ber (as requested) so that a
particular clerk could respond
to my inquiry, my call was
never returned.

A few days later, 1 tele-
phoned your Permits and
Inspections Department.

The man I spoke with said
the permit had been issued for
2,210 square feet on the main
level and 2,240 square feet of
basement level. 1 was su
prised that a permit could
issued for a basement whi
no soil tests have been con-
ducted to determine the water
table level and therefore the
viability of a basement.

In any event, I was advised
“the building permit has been
issued but Mr. Karakas has not
yet picked it up.”

Caroline McMahon
advised me that she had
attended at the district office
the day of my inquiry and was
advised the building permit
had not been issued.

| 984-7017 \

ih
n “\s Lo

Either it has or it has not
been issued, bur both state-
ments cannot be true. At this
point, the Forest Hills
Ratepayers Association docs
not know the starus of the
building mit for 964
Devon Re

This is jusi one recent
example of the misinforma-
tion being given by vour staff
and the frustration one faces

dealing with the various
departments that comprise
the district office.

So, it is entirely possible
that the gentleman I referred
to in my opening, whose
expericace prompted me to
write this letter, was advised it
is OK to clear-cut in anticipa-
tion of being granted a build-
ing permit.

When I brought my partic-
ular experience to the atten-
tion of a councillor, 1 was
advised it is best to always deal
with one individual. That is
simple advice dispensed after
the fact, advice that doesn’t
work when you cannot reach
that person or when you do,
you are advised the file has
been passed to another
department and you are
directed to go see so and so.

1 know from conversations
with others in the Forest Hills
Ratepayers Association that I
am not the only one who has
difficulty getting to the

VEREG-WEEKENDS ©

_tyan‘Valley Centre /
1199 Lynn-Valley Ad.
‘North Va? :
: o aes

. % >

a

N
vA

y.Centre~

ue pe

dB informed: Free ‘phone and $25.95 a month cefiular plan based on a 36-month transterable contract. New customers only, OAC.
fy Free local airtime: Untinited free calls on weekends. 100 free evening minutes per month — just 10¢ a minute after that. Home Free
calls must be local calls to a BC TEL. residential number. Free calls home applicable anly to calls made on the BC TEL Mobility network.

‘Two-n-One Plan: New 36-month contracts required on both primary

phone and secondary $9.95 phone. Secondary phone shares

primary phone pian and appears on primary phone bill. Rate of 55¢ per minute during non-free daytime periods. Annual radio system
access fee of $48, long distance charges and taxes extra. Earty cancellation fees apply on all 36-month contracts. Limited time offer

“right” person whe really
knows and/or understands
the process, proper sequence
of events, procedures, and sta-
tus,

The purpose of this letter is
two-fold: to give you some
insight into how frustrating it
is for John Q. Public ro gain
accurate and up-to-date infor-
mation while having to deal
with the numerous depart-
ments and personnel, and to
request a written response to
the following question: Has a
building permit been issued
for 964 Devon Rd. [fso, how
can a permit be issued “in the-
ory”, that is, for a basement
that a high water table will not
necessanly accommodate?
Linda M. McDonelip
North Vancouver

Mail Box policy

LETTERS to the editor
must be legible (preferably
typewritten) and include
vour name, full address
and telephone number.

Due to space con-
straints the North Shore
News cannot publish all
letters. Published letters
may be edited for brevity,
clarity, accuracy, legaliry
and taste. Submissions can
be faxed to 985-2104 bur
still. must be signed and
fully addressed.

Friday. September 26, 1997 -- North Shore News ~ 9

Richport Ford

Welcomes
Deryi Griffith
to our
Sales and Leasing Team

Deryt was born, raised, and actively involved in
the sporting community on the North Shore.
Following his graduation from Argyle Secondary
Schocl he attended Georgian College in Ontario
and Northwood University in Florida where he
earned a dual degree in Automotive Marketing and
Business Finance.

Deryl would be pleased to help service your
needs in purchasing or leasing any car or truck (any
make or model) available in the marker place. Fee!
free in contacting Deryl anytime at 273-7331
(office) or 667-2139 (pager).

Kehpon SB

In the Richmond Automall

3

— a ans oe ee oo

os

a

— ane! mew set