8 - Friday, January 16, 1987 - North Shore News Mailbox — AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDED Alderman speaks out suite issue on | Dear Editor: North Vancouver District Coun- cil recently voted to implement a moratorium extending to April 30 on compliance enforcement against illegal suites to allow time for a specially-formed task force to con- sider new approaches to an old problem vexing municipalities throughout the Lower Mainland. The task force includes tenants, council members, landlords, community associations but also included are developers and repre- sentatives of the real estate in- dustry, who have been clamoring for a relaxation of the illegal suites Dear Editor: lega District policy up until now has been to enforce this bylaw after receiving official complaints from neighbors. Lack of upkeep, park- ing problems or noisy tenants in premises owned, in many cases, by absentee landlords are the usual reasons for complaints. Often illegal suites are substan- dard and in clear violation of the existing building code and fire regulations. Many times they lack adequate cooking, heating or even sanitary facilities. It would take an amy of inspectors to check them all. Currently single family home- owners may have up to two The West Vancouver Santa ‘Claus Faad would like ¢(o say many ‘thanks to all the kind West. Vancouverites who donated ‘to the Christmas project. '. ‘Two hundred and forty-four food hampers were well packed! and in ‘each “we: include food: one rs_to. purchase. th ecessitics paral a idid cooperation received from: the. ipl “the business outlets - throughout the for coverage Dear Editor: First of all, may I express my appreciation and thanks to our community paper, the North Shore News for the extensive coverage, photographs and articles on the Topiary Train this past year. The Dec. 14 front page color photo had the Topiary Train in- undated with the seasonai ad- mirers. Great fun! Again, my appreciation to the heart of our community. Guy Carscadden North Vancouver 27th year-of service to tens of thousands of domestic & foreign car & light truck owners i.C.B.C. vendor BCAA approved A.R.A. certified Quality workmanship — Trustworthy service 1 174 Pemberton Ave. N. Van. 985-7455 boarders. They may also have in- laws living with them, provided they do not set up a separate household. Also, under the current defini- tion of the Family Bylaw, up to five unrelated people may live in a single family home on a non-profit basis, giving single family home- owners who need it considerable leeway to augment their income. At the same time, the current poli- cy has enabled district council to protect the single family residential neighborhoods and low density character of the community. All this ma: change now. In an eyeball-to-eyeball between developers, absentee iandlords, real estate interests and the council of the District of North confrontation Vancouver, district council blink- ed. There will be no stopping the speculators now. As for the task force, nothing will come of it, either this April or any other April thereafter. It is merely a smokescreen put up by district council to evade the issue. f wanted to handle the situation differently. I thought we should enforce the existing bylaw, after receiving complaints only, giving temporary relief to genuine hard- ship cases as opposed to giving carte blanche concessions to speculators. The only viable long-term solu- tion to the existing housing pro- blem is to build decent affordable housing such as has been built by the Seymour Lions Club in the Seymour area, including one plan- ned for senior citizens. These units are small scale, qual- ity built and rents are based on in- come. They are properly planned and integrated into the community with adequate services such as schools, recreation facilities and parking. This is the solution as opposed to turning single family neighborhoods into overcrowded slums. But district councii thou, =: otherwise. After making a bi, hullabaloo during the last civic election about defending the livability of the neighborhood and the community at large, they turn- ed and ran. Ernie Crist, Alderman District of North Vancouver Lions chefs thanked Dear Editor: On behalf of the North Shore Neighbourhood House, | would like to thank the Moodyville Lions its continued support Breakfast With Santa, which was held Saturday, Dec. Club for 13, 1986. In total, over 120 children, parents and friends at- of our annual tended the breakfast which also featured cartoons for the children and a visit with Santa. With assistance from the Moodyvill Liuns, our special event was a very memorable occasion for all of those who attended. The Lions Club members were responsible for cooking over 40 pounds of bacon and 300 pancakes for our breakfast and did so with endless energy and enthusiasm. designs in silk. Leslie Beleski Program Director North Shore Neighbourhood House a very special sale IN WEST VAN WE ONLY HAVE 2 SALES A YEAR. From Wednesday Jan. 14 to Sunday Feb. 8, this is your chance to choose from our wide selection of fine imported goods and exclusive Margareta price Plenty of sizes and colours in coats, jackets and sweaters by MONDI ¢ blouses and skirts by STEILMANN © 100% cotton shirts and flannel lined pants by NEW MAN ¢ many more exciting European lines. SPECIAL SALE HOURS: January 14th, 15th and 16th, open til Ipm West Van 1401 Bellevue 926-2113 : As usual, fantastic bargains continue at our North Van store, 156 West Third Sundays 11 am tii 5 pm Kerrisdale 40th and Boulevard 266-6211 Downtown 948 Robson 681-6612 980-1665 &