MAY 9, 1999 Bright Lights Celedrations Classifieds Crossword Fashion Sports eee 32 Travel occ 30 Talking Personals ¢>¢ 38 North Shore Free Press Lid, Pubksher Peter Speck 1139 Lonsdale Avenue. North Vancouwer BC V0 24 Canachan Proicstons Mad Sales Froduct Agyeement No 0087238 48 Pages Vi al prolect K'd Brady Fotheringham Contributing Writer PLANS for a large waterfront develop- ment at the foot of Fell Avenue were approved by North y Vancouver City on 000 17 ‘Tuesday. The proposed 68-acre Harbourside Business Park in North Vancouver will be developed by Greystone Properties Ltd: and will con- tain a mix of park, commer- cial and retail space. The development includes a walkway, offices and an auto mall. City council approved five bylaws pertaining to the dev opment. Construction will begin in Jul A waterfront park will sur- round the south and west boundarics of the site with a See Prajeet page S ‘ob Mackin News Reporter IF the First Nations Land Management Act becomes law, a local businessman fears his company will have “a precarious future.” That’s what Lynnwood Industrial Estates director Lou Blair told the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples in Ottawa Tuesday. “Non-native businesses that have no vote or say on how native governments will rule must have the protection of existing laws,” said Blair’s speaking notes. The committee was hearing public comments on Bill C-49, a proposal to give 14 Indian bands — including the North Vancouver-based Squamish Nation — self-management of Ref abuse p53 «© Sow it grows 227 Game in, game out, amateur sports officials feel the heat Cool weather a blessing in disguise Alcoholism is a problem for many seniors Health p20 FREE MEWS photo Terry Petors Stone garden NV company with leased native property on uncertain ground reserve lands. Lynnwood occupies land on 17.3 acres (7 hectares) of Seymour Creck Indian Reserve No. 2 west of the Second Narrows Bridge. It directly employs cight people, but another 300 work for 50 businesses that sublet property from Lynnwood. Lynnwood holds a 60-year lease through Feb. 28, 2018, with an option for a 60-year renewal. According to a document pre- sented to the committee, Lynnwood pays the Squamish Nation $458,989.63 a year for rent. Blair said the Squamish Nation should have the right to man- age its own lands and therefore Lynnwood does not oppose Bill C-49 in general. But specific sections dealing with expropriation, NORTH Vancouver scuiptor Michael Binkley holds his 4th annual Garden Sculpture Show, May 13-16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, rain or shine. The garden display and gailery are tocated at 535 East First St. Well-behaved pets and children are also welcome to attend. arbitration and environmental Jaw are vague and could be detri- mental to non-native businesses on native property. When Blair and his partners bought the business in 1989, the TD Bank approved a $2.8-million loan. Another $700,000 was borrowed to purchase the last building the company didn’t own. Blair said Lynnwood’s loans will be paid by Oct. 4, bur the TD Bank will not advance his company another $600,000 | said Lynnwood has always met its financial responsib remains a viable business. “The only thing that has changed is chat the uncertainty over native land issues has scared away any appetite the TD Bank has had for continuing to be a financial partner in a triple A compa- y,” he said. “Non-natives investing on native lands have become too high-risk for the banks to underwrite.” North Vancouver District Mayor Don Bell, appearing, with See Concerns page 1