Dear Editor: ’ Mr. Renshaw’s (April 5) column, “Get Maplewood area in gear” does a great dis- service to the democratic decision-making process and distorts the results of the recent public hearing on the re-zoning ef lands owned by Canadian Occidental Petroleum. The article states that the “forces of no growth-any- where-anyhow are strong and getting stronger” on: the : issues of business develop- ment in Maplewood. As anyone who attended the two nights of hearings ‘should know, critics of the rezoning proposal did not question the desirabilicy of economic development via a . business park - . for Maplewood. ‘There is. strong support “among district residents for ~ business «parks, ‘particularly the types which will encour- age. stable jobs such as - research institutions and light manufacturing, Jac) think ‘district residents, and ‘Seymour residents in par- ticular, want ‘sustainable employment. inthe aréa so hat“ local people can: find ood jobs with a future. - ‘Ar. the: public hearing it’ “clear that. there is com- agreement that we want Neourage clean, non-pol-. luting ‘industries that expand the-tax base. © Unfortunately, no such ake trash bags and get stuffed cling progam which requires v aenie to use, able string to tie up their shrub cuztings demands all green garden material be stuffed egra north shore news MAIL Box Maplewood hearing distorted vision emerged from district hall or CanOxy. Instead, the list of permitted uses includ- ed in the rezoning bylaw emphasizes retai! and the type of businesses that attract huge amounts of traffic, small buildings, and lots of asphalt and concrete. The area has the potential to attract businesses that will make a long-term commit- ment to this most depressed zone, bur it takes ame to work out a vision of how a community should develop. Consider for a moment that in addition to CanOxy’s 30 acres, there’s the Tolko lands, the Port of Vancouver land and the District’s own Maplewood lands - it’s not a “one gear” step. Those who spoke against the re-zoning of CXY lands and the expenditure of $10 million of district funds to re- align the Dollarton highway and build a new two-lane bridge across the Seymour River, did. so bécause the public has. only been informed of one aspect of thz issue. Two public meetings were: held in. 1997 to discuss the assessment of the risks posed - ’ by the production of chlo- rine. ; There was no information given or discussion of the complex financing and land use decisions. If citizens are expected to finance millions in tax dollars for economic development, shouldn’r they be informed abeut financial, transporta- tion, social, environmental and other impacts of such a development propusal? Not according to district hall and Canadian Occidental. Were district residents expected to read detailed documents to learn about their $3.75 million share of the Dollarton re-alignment? Fxpected to figuce out the various options for financing the new S6 million dollar bridge? How about the financial, social and ethical implications of expropriating residents who live along Dollarton at the foot of the district’s own Maplewood = development area? Mr. Renshaw calls this way of proceeding without infor- mation meetings, getting into “gear.” He presumably means third gear because an impor- tant one was omitted deliber- ately. Second gear is the neces- sary one of informing the public abour the details of a highly controversial project. - Even Mayor (Don) Bell admitted as much in council ~- during the public hearing. Mr. Renshaw’s article not only distorted the purposes for which many people spoke at the public hearing, it also missed the positive results of the public hearing. into’ plastic bags What happens to the hundreds of plastic bags now being collected? Are they to Stan Ward be shredded and turned 1 into plastic flowers? West Vancouver’ We: re Taking Registrations Now! CONTINUING EDUCATION Spring 98 Animals i in Western Ane Banuiday, April 25, $25 The Self Portrait—Saturday, May 2, $25 an Mythology i in Art—4 Saturdays, June 6 to 27, $85. Ms Word 97: Level 1—4 Saturdays, April 25 As May 23, $1 65 MSs Office’ ‘97: Level 1—3 Tues/2Thurs, April 21 to May 5, $175 MS Office 97: Level 2—2 Tues/3 Thurs, May 7 to 21, $175 "Level 1—10 Saturdays, ‘April 25 io June 27, $150 : Level 2—10 Semnays. April 25 to June 27, $150 Council has now agreed to initiate a public informa- tion process which will include some kind of open forum on the re-zoning issue and an open council meeting on the financial implications of the project. I think an important prin- ciple has been recognized by council. Don’t try to ram a multi- million dollar re-zoning pro- ject through when millions of dollars of the public’s money are at stake. Citizens who have an interest in how their tax dol- lars are spent have every right to question the process and make positive suggestions for improvements. One can _— understand Canadian Occidental’s rush to rezone and the desire of the people of Maplewood to sec the main highway removed from their commu- nity. . However, all of North Vancouver has a vital stake in rhe success of this project because of its potential impact not only on the pco- ple living in Maplewood but everyone from youth looking for future jobs to every tax- paying householder. Allan Orr North Vancouver Prestige CR-MO frame, Rock Shox Judy XC, XT/AX (reg. $1,949.95) (reg. $449.95) He’s a “spring Cleanin’ ‘97 Brodie Nucleus ~ $1, 299. 95. VP SPD Clipless Pedals: (reg. $99. 55) S John Luck Shoes (reg: $179.) OU as Sunday, April 12, 1998 — North Shore News — 9 Made with love ROBIN KAY SIMPLIFY LIFE Classic cotton knitwear from $58 this season. - Man’ 97 Brodie Evolution = $1, 199,95" it”. Prestige CR-MO frame, ! Rock Shox, XTAX =. |” (reg. $1,649, *) . ' MORE ’97 Bikes... up to 25% Off Marzocchi Z3 Forks - $229, 95 -. Marzocchi Atom Bomb - $649.85 (reg. 5849.25) eo , _Magura HS22 {reg. $449.85) - - $199, 35: ‘$49; 95