WANTING to protect the spacious lots of the Capilano,
Delbrook and Upper Lonsdale areas from subdivision is
turnirg out to be easier than finding a way to do it.

North Vancouver District Coun-
cil is trying to respond to the con-
cerns of residents who are, upset
about the changing character of
their neighborhoods resulting from
subdivision and more crowded in-
fill housing.

But council is having difficulty
finding a solution to the problem.

Ald. Craig Clark proposed a
motion in April calling for a report
on how the district can protect the
large lots in these areas from sub-
division, and he requested subdivi-
sion approval be withheld until the
report is received by council.

While the report is in the works,
council is not in a position to
withhold - subdivision approval,
which is the prerogative of the ap-
proving officer.

That hat is worn by district
engineer John Bremner, a
municipal employee who, in addi-
tion to his other responsibilities, is
appointed to the position, but is
not answerable to North Van-
couver District Council.

“It’s an awkward position,”
states Bremner.

Ald. Clark believes that there
has been some lack of consistency
in the subdivisions that have been
approved and not approved.

“The approving officer (AO)
has approved some subdivisions
that have already been turned
down by council,’’ said Clark, re-
ferring to a case where an applica-
tion that failed before council was

changed to win approval from the
AO.

But, Bremner said, consistency
in his decisions is a top priority.
“If I say no, I have to clearly

“We are seeing a
repeat of what
happened in 1980-81,
with lot prices
inflating and
prompting people to
look at the potential
in their large lots.’’
John Bremner
North Vancouver
District Engineer
EE
and concisely state why, because
my decision may be taken to a
judge in chambers.””
As AO, Bremner gets his
authority from the Land Titles Act

and is ultimately answerable to the

courts, .
“This ensures a certain con-
sistency,”” Bremner points out.

Bremner said there is more con-
sistency in the present system than
for each subdivision to be decided
by council, an elected body which
is subject to pressure from various
interest groups.

In Clark’s opinion, there are
subdivisions going ahead that are
technically viable, but not from a
“moral’’ standpoint and he is ac-
ting on what he perceives as a clear
message and mandate from the
public to have subdivisions stop-

In making his decision regarding
a subdivision, Bremner considers
not only the technical require-
ments, but the effect it will have
on the environment, the cost to the
municipality for cxtra services and
the public interest.

This involves listening to those
who may be injuriously affected by
the subdivision, such as adjoining
or adjacent properties.

The opinions of less immediate
neighbors are not given as much
weight.

““They may be significant to the
Official Community Plan, but not
to an individual subdivision,”” ex-
plains Bremner.

Not all objections are considered
reasonable, such as traffic.
Bremner does not believe three
more cars in an area affects local
traffic patterns significantly.

“The matter of view is a dif-_

ficult one to consider and we have
to ask whether anyone has a gi1r-
anteed view,”’ he adds.

While council may advise but
not instruct the AO in making his
decisions, Bremner has offered
some suggestions for how council

N. Lonsdale ratepayers to meet

Princess Avenue on the east to
Delbrook Avenue on the west, and
from 29th Street north to the
district boundary.

The annual membership fee is $5
per houschold.

THE NORTH Lonsdale
Ratepayers Association (NLRA) is
conducting a membership drive in
anticipation of its upcoming an-
nual general meeting.

At the meeting, to -be held on
Wednesday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m.,
récent and upcoming activities of
the ratepayers’ group. will be
reviewed.

These include new housing de-
velopments, infill housing and

rezoning, heritage sites, proposed
new roads, increased traffic and a
cross-town route, the district’s Of-
ficial Community Plan, Delbrook
and North Lonsdale plans, the
Queensdale area and a new joint
city and district study for future
transportation network needs.
Homeowners interested in the
future of their neighborhood and
wanting to be kept advised of de-
velopments are urged to join. The
perimeters of the NLRA are from

For more information, or to join
the NLRA, ca!l Wendy Mehain,
984-8129, or Rose Jones, 987-6476.
The May 10 meeting will be held in
the library of Carisbrooke school,
510 E. Carisbrooke Rd.

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3 - Wednesday, May 3, 1989 — Capilano Chronicle

District moves to protect large lots
im response to concerns of residents

could achieve the ‘comfort level’’
it desires regarding subdivisions.

ALD. CRAIG GLARK ... ‘‘We're
looking for a way of protecting
neighborhoods and miaking sure
that subdivisions are done in a
sensitive way.’

One option would be to pass
bylaws that would change the min-
imum lot size in different areas of
Delbrook and Upper Lonsdale.

This would not require unani-
mous approval of residents in the
area, but a public hearing to col-
lect local opinion would be neces-

“We couldn’t downzone an area
to (the point) where the owner
couldn’t make some use of it,’’
Bremner adds.

He's also looking at a procedure
that would inform the public in
advance of upcoming subdivision
applications.

“People get upset and phone
council because they are not aware
beforehand of the subdivisions and
want to have some input,’’ ex-
plains Bremner.

“We're looking for a way of
protecting neighborhoods and
making sure that subdivisions are
done in a sensitive way,”’ says
Clark.

Although there has been a
perceived increase in the number
of subdivisions coming up for ap-
proval, Bremner said the actual
numbers, about 80 per year, have
been fairly consistent over the last
seven years.

“‘We are seeing a repeat of what
happened in 1980-81, with iot
prices inflating and prompting
people to look at the potential in
their large lots,’’ says Bremner.

But despite the pressure the real
estate market is putting on these
properties, many are not deemed
suitable for subdivision, Bremner
has found.

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