NVD councillors

:

, velopment

“and. bulk

- over

, neighborhoods.:

January 6, 1992 aE =

‘Office, Euitorial 985-2131

propose size limit
on infill housing

NORTH -VANCOU VER District

Council. supported a

move Monday to freeze. the construction of infill housing

while a

nd council: has requested that
height amendments to lop up to

- eight. feet off ali new infill housing

be part of the proposed bylaw.

By Martin Millerchip
_ Contributing Writer

District: planning staff had

- recommended -a far more modest
feet in =

_ reduction’ of ‘only two.
height limitations.

Director of Planning: and De-
Services .Richard
Plunkett described council's: pro-
posals as’ ‘‘excessively restrictive
and almost unworkable.”

limited to Saville

new zoning bylaw is being prepared.

NORTH VANCOUVER
DISTRICT COUNCIL

ed stall proposais as not going far
enough and questioned the.
necessity for regulations that per:
mit 24% storey development in
neighborhoods ‘of one-storey and
basement homes. ; :

Elizabeth Jones, a -Sunnye t
resident, made the point that the
problem. of monster homes
“completely out of character with
the, neighborhood"? was not
Crescent
that residents from several areas

See zoning changes proposed, page 3

_ Despite, ‘some major differences
* between: individual. councillors and
‘between council and staff.‘as to::
‘,what might~be workable height
restrictions. on infill”
«housing . there was unanimous
-council approval Monday night .
‘for ‘the concept of. freezing infill
, development...

The proposal would limit demo-.
lition’ and reconstruction in. ex-
isting neighborhoods to houses
that are no higher than those they

replace. :: v

A new condition of any demoli-
tion’ permit would be to require a.
survey of the height of the build-
ing to.be replaced. :

Council was responding ‘to a.
new wave of community. anger
the effects \‘of’. so-called
“monster homes’’- on © existing
 An:vangry crowd filled ‘to.
~ overflowing the. last. council
meeting of .1992:to ‘hear Saville
Crescent -resident Harry .Mayor
“request. compensation” ‘‘for the
drastic devaluation of my property
value, my loss of view, my loss of’
privacy and my loss of the right to
“enjoy my surroundings.”’,

: . Mayor-estimated that his prop-
. erty had been devalued by $85,000

‘after a’ legal but: much larger home
was’ built. on ‘an . adjacent lot
“blocking his sweeping views’ of
Vancouver. vos '

_While the numbers were, down
for’ Monday night’s. meeting. the,
mood was just as angry; .

Speaker’ after Speaker d denounc-.

of

“property values

the district faced the ‘same;
problem. - !
“We elected you to represent’

-our views to the administration,
administra...

not to represent the
tion’s views to us,’’ said Jones:
“Bert Cowan, a 40-year district.

“ resident’ and a representative of
Keith Lynn Community -

the
Association, argued for neighbor
approval before buildings. that
block view or sun could be per-’
mitted.

-“*We -will not accept excuses.
We want strorg:action now before |
the district turns into a totally ug-
ly,community,”’ said Cowan,

While the concept of freezing
replacement building height to the
original building level was im-
mediately endorsed by Couns, Er-
nie Crist, Sim Cuthbert, Joan
Gadsby and Rick Buchols, Coun.
Paul Turner cautioned the gallery
to understand the consequences.

“Do you want us to protect

* your’ pocketbook as. well,’’ asked

Turner, referring to a reduction in
from : smaller
homes.

“Explain this (a moratorium on
development) to your uncle the
lino layer or the plumber.- Ask
them if they want’ to: sit. around
for six. months while this is work-
ed out,”’ said Turner.

A staff report on. the proposed
zoning amendments ° will come
back to committee level: (likely
Jan. 18) before: council can ‘vote
formally on enacting a demolition
freeze.

and ::

Oboist pursues his
passion for music

Display Advertising 980-0511 Classifieds 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337

y

NEWS photo Paul racer

‘The finishing touches

THIS GIANT ot a’ snowman was a fittle too big for Tim Stoddart to finish without. the help of,
Glen Davis, who held Tim ‘up to add the final touches to the face. Roger McKenzie stands by _
in case a third man is required to complete the task. .