2 - Wriduy, funuary 22, [98K - North Shore News PRESERVE OR PROGRESS? Viewpoints vary on ‘Vv community plan PROGRESS is at odds with preservation in the viewpoints being expressed through public input into the West Van- couver District community plan update process. Attracting younger families to the district is scen as a priority in many of the letters coming into municipal hall. “West Vancouver is increasingly becoming recognized as a retire- ment community. We suggest that the municipality develop strategics to change this image,"’ wrote co- president Jean McKenzie, on behalf of the West Vancouver Parents’ Association. The West Vancouver Real Estate Board is against preserving the character of existing residential communities, as tt believes this would stifle and discourage quality redevelopment. The West Vancouver Division of the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board suggested an increase of medium-density housing through blanket rezoning of a large part of the Ambleside, Hollyburn and Dundarave areas. This would allow for the creation of ‘Village Enclaves’ of cluster housing and terraced housing in units of two to four blocks. “*We would have a wide supply ‘base for affordable new housing which would meet the needs of both seniors and younger fami- lies,’ wrote West Van Division director Thomas Wardell of the Real Estate Board. “Less rigid approaches to lot size, set-backs and mass will help to create an attractive balance and eliminate fragmentation caused by spot-zoning,*' Wardell added. The board believes single-family housing is uneconomical! above the Upper Levels Highway, duc to the high costs of land and develop- ment. Bob Annable of Ancore Interna- tional expressed commitment to satisfying the needs of West Van's aging population by supplying alternate accommodation to single-family housing: Annable, whose company is building three groups of con- dominiums between the Upper Levels Highway and Cypress Park Road, also stressed the dangers to the environment posed by the building of single-family homes above the highway. Higher density development requires less blasting, denuding of the vegetation and provision of roads and other ser- vices. District, of North Vancouver planner Kai Kreuchen also com- mented on the need for a *‘broad mix of housing types in the new development areas above the Up- per Levels Highway,"’ while stress- ing recognition of the vatue of the North Shore’s forested mountain slopes to Greater Vancouver. The Ambleside and Dundarave Ratepayers Association, however, has come out in favor of maintain- ing the “livability and desirability of neighborhoods’ by preserving local continuity, scale and charac- ter. The West Vancouver Real Estate Board is against preserving the character of existing residential communities, as it believes this would stifle and discourage quality redevelopment. “We must respect both inevitable and healthy, Wardell. But Capt. George Murrell of the Ambleside Dundarave Ratepayers Association stated that rezoning of older single-family areas to multi- ple housing can only result in two extremes — high density apart- ments in one area and very large and expensive homes on large lots elsewhere, ‘with precious litte in between." Murrell! pointed out that older areas such as Ambleside, Dun- change as "said Group home licensing power debated in NV IN A BID to wash council’s hands of the provincial gov- ernment’s unpopular plan to open additional group homes for mentally ill adults in North Vancouver, Ald. Frank Morris proposed council eliminate its role in approving them. Morris argued the city has the power to refuse a business licence to an enterprise it deems negative to the community, but the Com- munity Care Facility Act overrides that authority. As a result, council is ‘‘pushed into complicity with the provincial government,’’ he said. “Since we don’t have the power to refuse (a licence) why should we carry the can?’’ Morris asked. ‘‘1 can’t see why we should share in the tar and feathers.’’ Morris proposed that council amend its business licence bylaw to eliminate the ability to grant a business licence to operators of group homes, but he received no support from council, By KAREN GRAM Contributing Writer Ald. Stella Jo Dean said the mo- tion would simply deprive the city of $90 the city collects each time it inspects a facility before granting a licence. She noted the city would still be required to inspect new fa- cilities for fire regulations. Ald. Barbara Sharp said the mo- tion would remove an aspect of ci- ty control which, although mean- ingless today, may be valuable in the future, “‘Things change, legislation changes, even governments change, and { wouldn't want us to lose power to issue licenses.”” darave, lower Caulfeild and Horseshoe Bay provide some of the most affordable single-family housing. Murrell was in favor of more planning for the Upper Levels area, ‘‘so that it too, will in time, have the attributes of a neighborhood and not a subdivi- sion.”* ‘tIn the fong term the Ambleside/Dundarave area cannot meet all of West Vancouver's necds,"" wrote Esquimalt Avenue residents Karen and W. D. Kinsey. “*Rather than altering the character that makes this area attractive, we encourage you to start on what is inevitable: development of one or more new villages which can have their own special character.”* | WEST VAN/WHISTLER VEERES ° 6 month e Answers within 48 hours Other competitive rates & terms available : New business only 8 3 Montreal Trust 510 BURRARD ST. 661-9410 B MARJAN TAYLOR WENDY FLUTER-PHILLIPS | PAGER 680-7372 PAGER 680-7330 f NORTH VANCOUVER a: whet rams TR ‘S eee LIGHTOLIER ON SPECIAL! —— MOVING PROJECTORS ON TRACK 5, 54 S59 ft (white sets}complete fo Project Removable Trach 215 W Remoradie ore te Track Heads 1M. Joiner Tract 1 ML. Joiner Trech 1 Canopy Kit or Condsat + Canopy Kit or Cordset