gust 28, 1998 — North Shore News — 3 eer New fireworks control bylaw fizzles in NVI Martin Millerchip News Reporter miller@nsnews.com LIGHT the blue touchpaper and stand clear. An attempt te restrict backyard fireworks displavs in’ North Vancouver Diserict failed to ignite Monday but set offal hor date nigh: debate on the subject of fireworks saters. When the smoke cleared council had adopted some amendments to its Fireworks Regulation Bylaw recommended by fire staff, But a recommenda. tion that would have established a permit system for the discharge of all backyard fireworks was not even voted upon by council. In his report to council, community safety manager Brian Stegavig wrote: “Fireworks will not be climinated, but use will be restricted to those peo ple who apply for a permit and r ¢ information on how to make their evening a safe one when discharging fireworks. “Hopefully, amateurs will be discouraged frent using fireworks and the residents of our municipality will be encouraged te attend public displays instead.” District firefighters receive money from council every Halloween io coor- dinate three public fireworks displays. Resident Brian Platts told council enough fireworks regulations exist already and said the proposed bylaw “will do nothing to reduce injuries from illegal fireworks, i.¢. firecrackers and bottle rockets, nor will it prevent acts of vandalism, arson or pipe-bombings on Halloween. Responsible district resi- dents can be trusted to enjoy a safe backyard fireworks display.” Platts said that when a similar proposal was considered by council in 1994 he had contacted Lions Gate Hospital and was told “that they treat only one or tWo minor injuries due to fireworks every vear.” Commented Platts, “More people are injured carving their pumpkins with sharp knives.” Edgemont Village resident Corrie Kost provided council with sratistics thar showed fireworks-related injuries in the U.S. have declined from 12,400 in 1990 to 7,600 in 1996 while fireworks consumption has almost doubled. _ Fire Chief Rick Grant admitted that injuries were “not an overwhelming roblem” but pointed out that the fire service did not have the ability to col- fect statistics from clinics and doctors’ offices. “Anytime we have an opportunity to reduce a problem or educate we have a duty tc do so ... All accidents are preventable,” said Grant. Besides requiring a permit for backyard fireworks displays, the proposed amendments would have limited the sale of fireworks i: the district to Oct. 25 through 30 inciusive. The provincial Fireworks Act limits the sale ef tire works to between Oct. 24 and Now. 1. Coun. Glenys Decring-Robb argued that most of the fire service sugges- * tions were covered by provincial restrictions (such as forbidding the sale of fireworks to persons under the age of 19} and that the permit propesal was the tip of an iceberg chat would lead to a fee structure next year. “It’s a bylaw by the do-gooders,” said Deering-Robb. “They've gonna save us from ourselves but we're going to have no fun along the way.” . Only Coun. fireworks permits. “1 don’t think thére’s anything unreasonable about it ... It’s not overly restrictive,” said Crist. - Council agreed to amend same sections of its bylaw and to: @ restrict fireworks sale in the district to Oct. 25 rhrough 31 inclusive; B include $100 fines tor the sale of fireworks without a business licence and for the dangerous use of fireworks. Oxy back to c Five-year public hearing process awaits decision from N. Vancouver District Catherine Barr Contributing Writer THE public hearing process is finally over, but the debate surrounding Canadian Occidental Petroleum’s (CanOxy) latest proposal for land bordering its North Vancouver chlorine plant now moves to North ‘Vancouver District Council. A contentious bylaw surrounding the rezoning of land along- side a realigned Dollarton Highway has been the topic of three public hearings to date. : ; Burt thanks to a 5-1 vote this past Tuesday night, the pubiic hearing portion of the process has ended. And with five years of community input now concluded council must bite the bullet and make a decision. ; After an updated presentation by CanOxy representatives Jane ’ Flemming and Richard Bolus, members of the public got their last chance to speak. ; ; . Approximately a dozen speakers, saany of them repeats trom " previous mectings, appeared to be equally divided on the issuc. Concerns ranged from safety and environmental issues to traffic congestion, negative neighborhood impact and positive econom- tenie Crist offered any support tor the proposed pracess of ic development. And because the development will buffer the existing chlorine plant, concerns about what kind of insurance CanOnxy carries, or what kind they should be carrying, were also raised. Coun. Lisa Mun, who argued against closing the public process, pointed our that in light of new information, more studies must be done. Her concerns revolve around the introduction of underground parking structures to the plans, She asked staff to make provisions in the bylaw for hydrology studies and to further investigate the feasibility of the new parking propasals, Coun, Janice Harris asked for a pedestrian study to be conducted for the Riverside Drive area. She also voiced her concerns about birds flying into the glass windows of the proposed buildings. Coun. Gienys Deering Robb said she was worried about semi-trailer trucks conung into the area. She believes them to be a normal part of light industry although CanOxy argues otherwise. “It (the proposed business park) ts supposed to be multi-use and [don’t sce multi-use,” said Decring-Robb. Coun. Pat Munroe had similar concerns and asked detailed questions about the trafhie studies that have taken place. He said he had some doubt as to their validity and asked for more intor- mation. And even though he has voiced his support for the develop- ment in the past, Coun. Trevor Carolan told CanOxy peint blank NV District Coun. Lisa Muri has concerns about underground water. Flower tower FRANK Metcalf is amazed by the height of his sunflowers in North Vancouver. The seed pack promised up to seven feet (2.1 m). The flowers have grown to be close to 12-feet (3.6 m) high. if that he is not in favor of high density office space. He said the plans appear to show 3 trend towards large office buildings and that is nor what is wanted, “I want to know what the real deal is,” he said. : Coun, Ernie Crist was not in anendance. The entire process has not been an easy one for council members. “Phe first night of this public hearing, held June 16, ended in several emational controntations benveen members of the public, councillors and the mayor. The land-use decision has dogged suc councils since 1993 when CanOxy tiest came forward with an application co rezone land that is now currently industrially zoned. Rezoning the land means CanOxy could then sell it tor use in light industrial develop- ment, office space Or even restaurants. “The lands are located immediately adjacent to its watertrone chlerine plant located at 100 Amherst Ave. And at the heart of issue is the upgrading and realignment of the Dollarton Highway. The current proposal means the roadway upgrade will not be finished until at least 2003 and includes cost- sharing with the district. Both the district and CanOxy have reportedly pledged $3.75 million towards the realignment and infrastructure improve- ments. But that cost will not include a new $6-million Dollarton Bridge with two extra Janes designed to match up to the new highway. .