8 - Fridsy, September 22, 1989 - North Shore News Ambieside residents show an interest in underground wiring THE UNDERGROUND wiring currently being installed in Ambleside’s business district may soon be available to residential neighborhoods. By MAUREEN CURTIS Contributing Writer Some homeowners are already expressing an interest in West Vancouver's recently approved policy of replacing residential overhead power lines with under- ground wiring. As with other local improvement projects, such as lane paving or storm sewers, residents would have to present a valid petition with a 66 2/3 per cent homeowner approval for the projects to go ahead. In addition, they would pay an initial $500 for a cost estimate - refundable should the project go ahead. The municipality would pursue any sources of federal and provin- cial grants and other available funds that could be put towards such projects. West Vancouver District Council made a change from an earlier cost-sharing formula that would have seen the municipality pay for all of the underground wiring in pxblic roads and lanes, while resi- dents paid for ail of the under- ground wiring fronting their lot. “This could be unfair in areas where there is no undergrounding on public road allowances, so we are proposing that municipality make a minimum contribution to all projects,” said Ald. Mark Sager at council’s Sept. 11 meeting. This would constitute 30 per cent of the total cost of the pro- ject, except where there was no municipal property involved, in which case the contribution would be just 20 per cent. Constance McCormick, repre- senting the 900-block Esquimalt residents who are interested in the instalation of underground wiring, spoke in favor of an even greater municipal contribution. “Unlike other local improve- ment projects, this is a one-time expense,’’ she said. But municipal manager Terry Lester pointed out that the other local improvement projects Mc- Cormick was referring to have in- volved facilities the municipalities are already responsible for main- taining. Wiring is an added responsibili- NV resident group hits impasse on traffic issue PATIENCE IS a virtue. And the Courthouse Area Residents Association (CARA) will have to remain virtuous a little longer as North Vancouver City Council voted Monday night to delay a decision on CARA's two-year-old traffic regulation lobby. By CORINNE BIORGE Contributing Writer Instead, council decided to wait for the outcome of a transporta- tion study before considering hir- ing an independent consultant to mediate between CARA and the city's engineering department. City engineer Chuck Gale estimated the cost of hiring a me- diator at between ‘$3,000 to $5,000, pre-supposing you want a technical adjudicaror.”’ “If we're still at an impasse at that point, then I'd say, yes, spend the money, because it is a very serious issue to the people up on (Grand Boulevard),’’ said Ald, Bill Beil. CARA’s lobby over the past two years has concentrated on improv- ing traffic regulations along East 23rd and Grand Boulevard, but they say they have reached an im- passe with the city engineering staff. ““We as residents of this city feel our observations, requests and suggestions are most unwelcome, and indeed disputed and rebuffed by the city engineering depart- ment,” said CARA chair Viira Daniels in her presentation to council, Daniels said the road was never intended to handle the large vol- ume of traffic that it now faces. “We were informed that no analysis of the suitability of this corridor to be used as & major road was ever undertaken,’’ said Daniels. Instead, she said, the traffic could easily be diverted to the Up- per Levels High way. “Professional staff in our own city refuse to face the fact that commuter traffic that should be on the highway is speeding through our neighborhood” said Daniels. But city engineer Chuck Gale said the engineering department and CARA had different ideas of what was the right amount of traf- fic for the area. “The only concern I have is that the CARA group has a different point of view from the engincering department,’’ Gail said. In a city report prepared by deputy city engineer Don Bridgman, the Courthouse Area was not seen as having any more traffic difficulties than other arcas in the city. “This section of roadway has had litle change to its traffic con- trol devices over the past several years during which time the acci- dent history has been consistent with other similar roads in the ci- ty,*’ Bridgman said in his report. All Webb Lounges VY price lounges from °39% We’ve Goofed, Save 25-50% 5 piece sets Umbrellas Chaise lounges Tables Chairs §199-1,495 8 29% . 299 5 69°° - 399 529° - 499 S$ 49° - 199 from & 4°53 - 149 CAST ALUMINUM NEVER RUST 5 pieces from $449” (PICK -UP PRICE) ty. The municipality took on 50 per cent of the cost of undergrounding the Ambleside area, but this was on the basis that there is a higher use of this area by the community as a whole. The approxinate cost of under- grounding the Ambleside area is about $87,000 per block, but this could vary in other areas according to geography. According to municipal clerk Doug Allan, underground wiring is extremely complex and involves exceptionally high engineering costs, a of. ee 7 ~° a as ei DY AOS Oe po E meet cht Wires » wlio. e oo, rat Lb ww . Sad fi . VANCE COVER FRADE CENTER - - od . rene. or Og QAAASIA CeBIT . 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