1S | The cast-west connector would tie in the neighborhood with Lynn Valley. The link has been on the municipality’s agenda for possible Street system expansion for the past 20 years. The North Lonsdale Ratepayers Association (NLRA) presented co.ncil with a 700-signature peti- tion opposing the link at the three-hour, Carisbrooke Elemen- tary Schoo! meeting attended by over 300 people. The petition signatures were col- lected over a six-week period and represent most of the homes in the Upper Lonsdale area. But residents were happy to hear district. planners had cut the amount of new housing proposed for the North Lonsdale/Kilmer Creek area. Initial plans called for 426 homes. The new proposal calls for 282 homes. Said Bill Sievewright, past president of the NLRA: ‘We've made considerable progress in the planning process with staff over the last few months, but we are still at odds with the district whether a link should be put in.” Sievewright said there are good reasons that it should not go ahead, According to the latest census figures, the number of Lynn Valley housing units grew by 25 per cent between 1976 and 1986. The popu- lation in the Upper Lonsdale area has decreased by approximately i aking ents re UPPER LONSDALE area residents gave an emphatic ‘no thanks’ again to North Vancouver District plans for a pro- posed roadway link connecting East Braemar Road and Dempsey Road at a public meeting Tuesday. By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter five per cent in the same 10-year period. “The figures show that it is a Lynn Valley problem they are try- ing to solve by putting a road through Upper Lonsdale,*" he said. Said Gayie Shaw, a resident liv- ing on Braemar for the past two years: ‘“‘I felt we made some ground. | felt council for the first time listened to the residents on Braemar. We're encouraged, but we're not through yet.’’ Shaw believes much of the pressure on council to push through the link is coming from Lynn Valley and residents living on 29th Street. Twenty-ninth Street residents don't want additional traffic in their area and Lynn Valley resi- dents would be pleased with a shorter route through to Lonsdale. Said North Vancouver District Ald. Craig Clark, who voted against the link in a $-2 council vote approving the current plan several months ago: *'A link would just invite new traffic in the area in addition to the traffic from the, new houses. The current roads are adequate to handle the traffic from new housing.’' Clark said he'd stil} like to see a temporary traffic barrier on Well- ington Drive. The barrier would a splash DUCKS AHOY! A small flotiila of Taiwanese Racing Ducks was launched Thursday on the Capilano River by Rotary Club members Bernie Sparrow (holding duck umbrella) and Rick Graves. The occa- sion was 2 Media Duck Race to promote the Great Capilano River Duck Race to'be held op Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. Twenty-five thousand ducks — sponsored at a cost of $5 each ~- will race down the Capilano River on the Valentine's Day race. The first ducks to glide over the finish line will win for their “owners’’ prizes such as an '88 Chevrolet Corsica, Tickets for this Rotary fund raiser may be pur- chased at booths in the Capilano Mall and Park Royal south mall. Organizers report that the best place to watch the race will be the foot path on the west side of the river, near the mouth. 3 - Sunduy, January 24, 198% - North Shore News NEWS photo Cindy Bellemy RESIDENTS CROWDED the Carisbrocke Elementary School gym Tuesday night to hear the latest North Vancouver District plans for new home construction in the Upper Lonsdale/ Kilmer Creek area and a proposal to link Bracmar Road and Dempsey Road. fimit traffic to one-way only on a portion of the road to discourage the use of the road as an arterial route for commuters. Said Clark: ‘‘With 700 Signatures on the petition, that definitely says, ‘No, we don't want the link.’ I'd be really surprised if council will persist in pursuing this without the hard facts that really are needed.”” He estimates lots in the area could be up for sale in a year’s time if council approves the latest plan. “I would hope that the lots go through without the Jink and that a corridor right-of-way be kept for future use when a link might really be needed."’ The issue returns for council consideration at a policy and planning meeting scheduled for Feb. 15. Parking problems. stall W/. Van legion expansion A LACK OF parking and resident protests are still the ma- jor impediments to the West Vancouver Legion’s plans to build a 1500 sq. ft. addition onto their facility. West Vancouver District Coun- cil recently ordered a staff report on the parking situation in the area after several local residents com- plained that things would only get worst if the addition was built. “This addition is not to provide for greater membership, but to improve facilities for existing members," disputed Legion past president and former’ secretary Robert Spray. A 750 sq. ft. “Quiet Room’? is proposed for the bottom floor, to be used for reading or playing games, while above it, the meeting room would be extended by 750 sq. ft. to make. the facility less crowded. Of the 770 members, only 50 are regular participants (60-70 on weekends) at the building, Spray guessed, . Many of these live close enough to walk to the Legion, he added. Part of the expansion will in- clude the addition of nine parking spots to bring the tota! to 16. “It is ludicrous to suggest that nine extra spaces will alleviate the problem that exists,’’ argued Es- quimalt resident Paul Cote. Complaints came from people living on Esquimalt, Duchess and 18th Street, which is very narrow. ‘*A firetruck was recently unable to get through and the mifk truck often has trouble,*’ said Duchess resident Brian Hahn. Hahn also complained of verbal abuse, people parking on his lawn and loud music from the weddings that are held at the Legion. According to June Hahn, family By MAUREEN CURTIS Contributing Writer vehicles parked in front of their home had been hit four times in the past cight years by drivers who had spent the evening at the Legion. ‘*T believe in the Legion, but this is also a residential area. This ad- dition is not just for Legion members but for the commercial renting of the building for wed- dings,’’ said Esquimalt resident Ada deZouba. “During the past 10 years when - | was secretary, I have never come across a single written complaint regarding the Legion or with respect to parking,’’ said Spray, who pointed out that the comple- tion of the Legion in 1930 preceded most local residences. “Just because people bought in- to the area knowing there was a Legion, doesn’t mean council shouldn’t consider their con- cerns,’’ said Ald. Mark Sager. Ald."Rod Day was the only one to speak out against the vote for the staff report. “This issue has been studied to death... Staff isn’t going to find a solution and we all know that,’’ he said. But Sager thought parking restrictions in the area might be a solution. But Day argued: ‘‘Restricting parking in the area would ruin the Legion.”’ Spray could not say whether the Legion would go ahead with plans to create more parking spaces if their addition was not permitted. Les Bewlay.............14 Business................09 Classified Ads...........51 Doug Collins............ 9 Comics...............-.45 Editorial Page........... 6 Fashion ................ 19 Bob Hunter.......;..... 4 Lifestyles...............43 Mailbox ..............0067 Sports ..........-..4.56 05 TY Listings.............49 Travel. .......0.0006520.47 What's Going On.........46 Sunday, periods of rain, Monday and Tuesday, cloudy with showers. Highs near °C.