12 ~ Friday, December 14, 1990 - North Shore News Residents demand council tear down walkway AN ILL wind still blows across West Vancouver's Batchelor Bay beach, some 23 years after a vio- lent storm set in motion events that would haunt the people who love the little cove. By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer On Monday night, the newly elected West Vancouver District Council faced yet another discontented area resident who criticized the newly-built public walkway that covers the con- troversial rip-rapping of large rocks on the beach. The boulders were dumped there 23 years ago by a waterfront resident anxious to stop further erosion of his property following a bad storm that had set waves crashing high onto the beach. “This is a small and exquisitely beautiful cove, and now there is this massive structure with wooden beams and concrete pylons,’ said Dufferin Avenue resident Alan Francis, who pres- ented a petition with 78 names demanding removal of the walkway. The petitioners are asking that the walkway be replaced with a less imposing pathway. Francis was aware that area res- idents’ original demands to remove the rip-rapping, which would require the addition of a retaining wall to secure the private property behind it, would have proved too costly to meet. WEST VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL But he charged that local people had had no idea of the size of the structure that the municipality was planning to build to regain the lost public access across the beacli. “The drawings inaccurately depicted the scale and placement of the structure,”” said Francis. Francis said that engineers had designed the walkway mindful of strength, safety and cost, but without sensitivity to the natural beauty of the beach. He claimed that the local com- mittee that had negotiated the walkway’s construction had no mandate to represent the area, and he criticized members for fail- ing in their responsibility to get the beach restored to its previous ‘*pristine beauty.”’ But Penny Damm, who had worked actively on the committee for years, defended the commit- tee. “This was an open committee. All residents were invited to at- tend the meetings,’’ said Damm. She maintained that all local residents had been kept informed of plans as they had progressed. In an earlier letter to council she admitted that the walkway structure had been a compromise to the committee’s earlier goal of removing the rocks which ‘'! and others fought hard for.”’ Shop owners plead for extension From page 11 immediately and the site restored to an acceptable condition.”’ One option that council could consider is spot-rezoning the property to regularise the use of the site, but district director of development Richard Plunkett. opposes that solution. In a Nov. 22 report to council, Plunkett argued that the Dobays were well aware of the conditions . and limitations of their lease. He added that spot-rezoning runs counter to district planning principles and that ‘‘spot-rezoning would not guarantee long-term tenure as they will still be on a month-to-month termination with the port.”” But Dobay said in his pres- entation that the port was prepared to grant a one-year lease for 1991. He referred to a letter received from the port’s property ad- ministrator, John Tarrant, which stated that the port had ‘‘no ob- “NEW YEAR'S EVE FIESTA” Book Now! for information call 980-2405 180 West Esplanade comer Esplanade & Chesterfield (across from the new Famous Players Theatres) jection to a continuation of the existing use as a fish and seafood store’ subject to reconsideration in the event of future redevelop- ment. Dobay also said that because of his failing health he only envisag- ed his business staying in its pres- ent location ‘‘maybe a couple of years.” Shirley Dobay said later that they had sunk $150,000 into the Crab Shack building to bring it up to building codes, The money, she said, could in- stead have been used to buy their home. Said her husband, ‘‘If we lose this business we will lose our source of income and therefore will probably lose our home. “*I just don’t see where we are hurting anyone. If there was going to be a development going in I could see it.’’ Council will consider the matter at next week’s meeting. MEXICAN SPANISH RESTAURANT Pepitas Parties! Damm criticized Francis for not becoming involved earlier. “*Ir would have been wonderful to have had all this energy avail- able during the planning stages," she said. West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager said he doubted that council members would challenge Damm’s ° TIMES e COSTS ¢ BARGAIN DAYS eCHRISTMAS ZOO ¢ CHRISTMAS TRAIN INFORMATION: 683-3525 Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation with assistance from the Canadian Legion Mt Pleasant Branch Local 177 Sie, Sage, Suey, Shidey, Seiden. Suen, Seger, Suiley. Gules. Shien. Seis. Nin Side. TM Nilo Sin Sa Sie Se integrity. “We are all aware of vour ef- forts over the years,”” he said. But Sager said it would be a shame for the current solution to the problem at Batchelor Bay to “divide the community.” He called for a further meeting in the new year between repre- STANLEY PARK’S The popular miniature railway has donned its festive apparel with: LIGHTS! MUSIC! DISPLAYS! December 7th - other days, 2 p.m. - Children & Seniors: 85¢ Adults: $1.70 THIS MONTH 8 «* ROBOCOP 2 FOR CHRISTMAS GIVE THE GIFT OF ENTERTAINMENT c= CHOOSE FROM HUNDREDS OF VIDEOS FOR SALE c= BLOCKBUSTER GIFT CERTIFIGATES CHARTBUSTERS™ 1 «= PRETTY WOMAN 2 «= TOTAL RECALL 3 « THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOSER 4 ce TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 5 = BIRD ON A WIRE 6 = BACK TO THE FUTURE 7 «= ANOTHER 48 HOURS 9 « CADILLAC MAN 10 «= ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Aine film student is cought terious “business mon ” offers him a j 0 ahi arious life of crime. £1990 Tn Star Prctutes, inc AN Pugres Rasereed 19901 ayo and Design Ei ACA Columba Pictures Home Video A Reghts Reserved CHRISTMAS TRAIN Friday, December 7th "til Sunday, January 6th (Closed December 25th) Seniors free December 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th. Open December 15th thru January 6th Wheelchair Accessible PARK & TILFORD CENTRE * 3 EVENING RENTALS! * OVER 19,000 WidEaS! * OVER 30 CATEGORIES! sentatives from municipal staff, council and the neighborhood. Ald. Pat) Boname said that council had taken so long to resolve the walkway issue it had fost touch with the community. “Somehow we've got to close the circle,”” she said. 21st, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. 9 p.m. ii BLOCKBUSTER STORES JANUARY 23! Imare when , a wife, and |. : 1 Minetneeee eee eee .