THE YOQICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVE

oe

tA
eet on)

September 29, 1993

na

56 pages

ens

FIRST PRIZE in the Coach House Inn’s Beer Belly

Oftice, Editorial 985-2131

TOP SQUAD

N. Shore Crusaders girls’
succer team going for
nav't honors in Quebec.

BIG DADDY

Classifieds 986-6222

Jay Brazeau playing
southern patriarch in
new Ans Club production.

Distribution 986-1337 25¢

NEWS photo

Splash '93 went to the ‘headhunter’ group

of Alan Hart (centre) and assistants Chris Reiter (left) and Tina Craig. They donated the $200
cash prize to the Children’s Hospital Fund.

Angry Capilano neighbors say criminal element being attracted to area

UPPER CAPILANO residents are opposed to the 24-hour
eperation of a neighborhood convenience store that they
say is attracting a criminal element.

They turned out in force at the
North Vancouver District
municipal hall on Monday to let
council know their views in per-
son.

The parking lot of a Mac’s store
at 4710 Capilano Rd. was the
scene of a recent brawl! between
two groups of youths. Two
teenagers were hospitalized with
knife and machete cuts on Sept.

17. .
. Local residents warned council

NORTH VANCOUVER
DISTRICT COUNCIL
by Martin Millerchip

of the potential for violence in
and around the store as recently as
Aug. 9.

On Monday, they presented
council with a 350-signature peti-
tion stating that ‘‘the store is at-
tracting a criminal element and is

endangering the safety and sanc-
tity of our community.””

They described the parking lot
as a late-night hangout for youths
and said the noise from around
the store has been a problem since
it went ta a 24-hour operation in
1986.

Bill Boyd, manager of an adja-
cent video store, cited problems
with loud music from cars, foul
language, refuse and public
drinking.

Boyd said older residents are
afraid of the youths who con-
gregate in the area and that
“‘other merchants are down in

ESE Se ia ree eS

business, myself included’? as a
result of the problems.

He suggested that if Mac’s
closed at 11 p.m. there would be
no reason for teens to gather
there. Failing an evening closing
time, Boyd said that security
guards should be hired ‘‘to move
the young people away.”

Council’s last attempt to deal
with the issue before the recent vi-
olence resulted in an Aug. II in-

vitation to the owner or manager:

of the stere to appear before
council “to explain why they have
been unable to control their young
patrons from using the premises,

including the parking lot, as a
staging and operating base for
creating nuisance in violation of
the existing district bylaws to the.
detriment of the surrounding resi-
dential neighborhood.”’

A further clause in the motion,
proposed by Coun. Ernie Crist,
threatened to withdraw the store’s
business licence. It was narrowly
defeated.

But Mac’s declined. to appear
before council.

In a Sept. 23 letter, six days
after the parking lot brawl, district

See Voters page 5