OVER 200 NORGATE residents, angered over a proposal by a group of property owners who have applied to North Vancouver District Council for an increase in lot zoning density, packed Norgate Elementary School gym Tuesday at a public hearing. Application was made earlier this year by Greg Cragg on behalf of 15 of the 21 property owners situated north of 15th Street be- tween Tatlow Avenue and MacGowan Avenue for rezoning from single-family residential to zoning allowing for a maximum of 36 apartment units per acre. But many Norgate residents feel the move to a higher density will spell the end of the strong sense of community currently enjoyed by people living in the area. Reporter “Ies a completely unique neighborhood,’’ said Sowden Street resident Elaine Torrell. ‘It’s all small ranchers on fairly large lots. It’s the kind of neighborhood where everyone knows everybody else. Putting in apartments will take away any of the charm left."’ She said two houses developed on 33-foot lots recently in the neighborhood fit in with the sur- er es rounding structures by virtue of the developer's adherence to restrictive covenants. “Why can't we do the same with these?’’ she asked. ‘‘The planning department seems to have rubber stamped it.” In suppori of increased density, the planning department sees the townhouse proposal as providing a trarsition between the lower densi- ty Norgate homes and the com- mercial strip along Marine Drive as well as providing a balance be- tween strong economic forces to redevelop in the area and the resi- dents’ desire for a stable neighborhood. But said North Vancouver District municipal planner Kai Kreuchen: ‘‘The Cragg application has not been converted to a bylaw A NEWS photo Cindy “SUNSHINE” HAS it in the bag — a chauffeured trip through the aisles of a local grocery store to do her Christmas goodie shopping. This mini Yorkshire terrier weighs three Ib., three oz. and is almost nine months oid. Food donations tr to local Xmas charities of money, which will be used to: THE DEMAND for Christmas food hampers is strong, but donations of food are not keeping pace, say officials from the North Shore’s two Christmas charities. “It’s slow,’? West Vancouver Santa Claus Fund chairman Ruth Stout lamented Friday. ‘‘Dona- tions should get in this week. I have to have the food.’’ “We have some food coming in, but we’re expecting a lot more in over the weekend,’’ said North Vancouver Christmas Bureau of- fice manager Kay O'Neill. Leading the drive to help the WYSCF and the North Vancouver Christmas Bureau collect food for food hampers is the North’ Shore News and 53 local businesses. Sporting News banners and posters, the businesses — spread throughout the North Shore — are this year’s collection depots for the annual Christmas food drive. Donations of non-perishable food items can be left at any of By STEPHEN BARRINGTON , News Reporter these locations. Although the drive usually starts slowly and gains momentum as North Shore residents open their hearts to the cause, both groups say they might not have enough food. Supplies may have to strain to meet demand, the charities say. “Maybe people think there’s a fot of time,’' said a concerned Stout, who noted that the WYSCF's pre-Christmas distribu. tion date is approaching fast. As well as non-perishable food items (perishables, unfortunately, cannot be accepted and must be thrown out), the two Christmas charities are accepting donations ckie in purchase food vouchers for hampers. Tucked into the hampers, the vouchers will be used by the reci- pients to buy turkeys and other perishables to tide them over through the Christmas season. Anyone with a donation can drop it off at any of the North Shore depots. Suggested donations to make up a tasty hamper include canned goods, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soups, peanut butter, jam, honey, crackers, cereals, sugar, flour, spaghetti, noodles, rice, potatoes and Japanese Christmas oranges. Look on page 40 of today’s News for a complete list of the North Vancouver Christmas Bureau and West Vancouver Santa Claus Fund depot locations. ‘We're hoping for a good week,’ O'Neill said. ‘After that we haven’t much time.”” 3 - Sunday, December 13, 1987 - North Shore News NORGATE RESIDENTS UP_IN ARMS OVER P"}OPOSED REZONING and has not started the bylaw pro- cess. The application went directly from an initial introduction to a public meeting at Norgate Elemen- tary School Tuesday." Kreuchen said the residents lined up to sell their property do not stand to make a killing, even with the high density residential rezone allowing apartments. ‘We did an analysis earlier with the residents association’s par- ticipation. The analysis shows in order to have a development that has a marginal economic incentive, without the risk of possible illegal suites, this type of zoning would be necessary,"’ he said. Kreuchen said the 80-foot lots supporting 40-year-old houses average approximately $120,000 on the market. “‘These people can't afford to upgrade to current standards. It wouldn't be economical. It’s either a renting proposition or a tear down and rebuild,’’ he said. Council will be voting Dec. 21! on a rezoning application on behalf of the Capilano Lions Club to allow for a 40 to 60-unit seniors housing project in the same neighborhood at Bridgman Avenue and 16th Street. The rezoning would increase the density from single-family residen- tial to high density residential allowing for 55 units per acre. But the district planning department has recommended rezoning to the 36-unit-per-acre density proposed in the Cragg: ap- plication. Lanskail named transit chairman WEST VANCOUVER Mayor Don Lanskail has been ap- pointed chairman of the Vancouver Commission (VRTC). The appointment was announc- ed Tuesday by Municipal Affairs Minister Rita Johnston. ‘*It will certainly be a challenge,’’ Lanskail said Thurs- day. ‘‘We are involved in some tricky funding negotiations right now,”’ ' The commission jis currently negotiating a new transit funding formula with the provincial gov- ernment. Johnston said Lanskail’s record of community involvement com- bined with his political experience would be a tremendous asset to the chairmanship and ensure funding negotiations ‘‘are successfully con- cluded.” Lanskai) replaces outgoing chairman and former Surrey mayor Don Ross, who served as VRTC chairman for the last eight months. The West Vancouver mayor has represented the North Shore on the commission since May, when he replaced North Vancouver City Mayor Jack Loucks. The commission, which is responsible for setting the fares and organizing Vancouver and area transit scheduling, is made up of seven Lower Mainland mayors, who serve two-year VRTC terms, Weather: Sunday, mostly sunny. Monday and Tuesday, cloudy with periods of rain. Highs near 8°C. Regional Transit WEST Vancouver Mayor Don Lanskail... appointed chairman of the Vancouver Regional Transit Commission. VRTC chairmen are appointed by the minister responsible for B.C. Transit. Lanskail said transit fares will be increased next year, but declined to speculate on the size of the in- creases. Public meetings, he said, would be held during January to discuss the increases, which will come into effect April 1. ' INDEX Business............ 58 Christmas News......29 Classified Ads........59 Doug Coijlins......... 9 Comics ............. 53 Editorial Page........ 6 Fashion.............23 Bob Hunter.......... 4 Lifestyles............49 Mailbox............. 7. Sports.............. 19 TV lListings..........54 Travel ...........4.. 52 What's Going On... ..56