MaiLBpox a Crist’s view on ‘rotten’ deal demands a response COVE CLIFF SCHOOL CONTROVERSY Dear Editor: Your front page coverage in the June 15> News of Ald. Ernie Crist’s view that the North Van- couver District Council/School Boaid property deal for the Cove Cliff School site is ‘‘rotten’’ de- mands a response. Since the mayor's or other aldermen’s responses didn't deal with the facts of the matter, the reader is left with a vague feeling that it’s just politics. Some backgorund on the issue seems warranted. First, 1 would recall for your readers that in November of last year, council] (in a unanimous vote) agreed to lease to the board about 1.5 acres of district land in two parcels adjoining the board’s site. This was to facilitate the Myrtle Creek culverting proposal of the board, whereby to accom- modate over 500 feet of the best fish habitat in all of the Indian Arm creeks would be destroyed. The factors compelling council were simply the board’s deter- mination to implement their culvert proposai and, in a 640- name petition, the parent group's demand for action. This district-owned land was capable of being subdivided into six lots with a net worth of about $750,000 if the sometime tentative designation of five of them for park is ignored, as does happen in the district. The district treasury would have been enriched for the 99-year lease by the grand total of a $1 one-time payment. Now let’s turn to the present deal whereby the district leases 10 additional lots to the board for a period of 99 years or as long as the land is required for school purposes. What isn’t mentioned in the coverage of Ald. Crist’s denuncia- tions is that the district now is to receive ownership of land within the Myrtle Creek ravine now owned by the board, plus board- owned non-ravine land southeast of the ravine of about 0.6 acres area capable of subdivision into 3% lots. For this lease/exchange the district will receive $400,000. Compared with what was to be achieved by the board/council agreement of last November, we now have a win-win-win-win situ- ation. First, a win for the environ- ment: The creek and most of its habitat is saved. Second, a win for neighbors of the site: It’s no longer necessary to scalp the entire site of trees, nor to jam the playfield up to valued private yards. Third, wins for the school board: the now-proposed playfield Gravitron by StairMaster THE WORKOUT OF YOUR LIFE ‘just as,” the vice-chairman says, ‘the board wants it,, and a valuable teaching resource in the ereek itself; a net saving in ac- commodating the playfield of about $400,000; plus relief from the need to expropriate a pricey residence needed to implement its scheme number two fish habitat compensation proposal. Fourth, wins for district. coun- cik Apart from fulfilling its’ re- sponsibility to the environment and the neighborhood, surely the present. return of $25,000 or $30,000 for each district lot (depending on how you figure it) is a much better deal than the 16 cents per lot considered by all council members to be acceptable in November. If Ald. Crist could persuade council to negotiate at least as ef- fectively with the North Shore Golf Course Society as it has leading to the present Cove Cliff School site deal, district taxpayers could expect to receive $15 to $20 million up front for a prepaid lease of the Northlands site — in- stead of the present proposal for a share of profits and prestige. Still somewhat of a rip-off of the district’s land bank but at least not a scandalous sell-out. W.J. Blakely North Vancouver 7 ~ Wednesday, July 4, 1990 - North Shore News CANADIAN CLOSET SHOPS 986-4263 Free home estimates VMAS AUTOMOTIVE .-: SPECIALS 1239 Welch St., North Van. 986-8190 YOU DESERVE TO MAKE MORE MONEY! GOVERNMENT | 13.40% | 12.90% | 12.75% T-BILL RATES |3 MONTH |6 MONTH] 1 YEAR CALL KEN GORDON 668-2055 ScotiaMcLeod Do you own Mutual Funds? Call tov vour FREE copy of ine Mutual Fund Monitor CUSTOM DRAPERIES AND VALANCES Labour $6.50 per panel unlined, $7.50 lined. CUSTOM BEDSPREADS AND COVERS Low, low prices on blinds and tracks For FREE Estimates Call 987-2966 Serving the North Shore for 18 years.