Katharine Hamer News Reporter WEST Vancouver District Council voted March 6 to implement a series of new traffic regulations on and around Marine Drive. Council endorsed the findings of a committee established to consider the issues of left-hand turns and parking in Ambleside and Dundarave. The following changes are now scheduled to take place: Wi installation of a pedestrian- activated signal on Marine Drive at 24th Street, with staff to investigate the possi- bility of speed activation of the signal, @ the installation of a multi- way stop control on Bellevue Avenue at 14th Street and 20th Street; @ time-restricted parking on Marine Drive from 13th Street to [9th Street to be increased from one hour to ewo hours; @ revising the time-restricted parking in the 400-block of 13th Street from one hour to two hours; B installation of an addition- al painted crosswalk on the east side of 23rd Street at Marine Drive. Council also intends to Police nab scam Katharine Hamer News Reporter A suspected scam artist has been caught out by West Vancouver Police after being recognized by a gas station employ- ee. Police believe the 31-year- old man from New Westminster is responsible for a number of thefts and attempt- ed thefts that have taken place in West Vancouver over the last month. Five of those incidents, occurred on Wednesday alonc. WVPD Cpl. Janis Jean said the man’s mode of operation was to try to confuse store clerks by asking them to make change. ve WHATEVER YOU'RE INTO “He'll go to a coffee shop and say, ‘Can you change this $20 for two toonies and a loonie,’ and then buy a cookie and say, ‘Oh, can you take it out of that,” said Jean. “Then he'll get the $20 and the change plus the cookie.” The Petro-Canada station at 14th and Marine Drive was targeted by the scam artist on Wednesday. Later that day, the Petro- Canada clerk recognized the man in a vehicle outside Park Royal mall, and called the police. The man was appre- hended at around 2 p.m. Wednesday, along with a female companion who was not charged. Police identified the suspect as the individual who appeared in security footage recorded at request that West Vancouver Police Chief Grant Churchill increase the level of speed enforcement oon Marine Drive through Ambleside and Dundarave. Coun, Allan Williams put forward an additional mouon: that left turns be prohibited on Marine Drive at l4th, 15th, 16th and 17th streets between 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. Municipal staff were directed Monday to prepare a oreport on Williams” motion. Last April, engineering and planning consultants Hamilton and Associates pre- pared a study for council on suspect the Petro-Canada station. The man admitted to a number of thefts, including the theft of some hockey cards from the Ambleside 7-Eleven store. Investigating officer Const. Jag Johal then walked through the Ambleside area to assess how many other store owners had been affected. Several said they had been approached by the suspect. Police are recommending charges of possession of stolen goods and theft under $5,000. They may also request the man not be allowed to return to West Vancouver. A court appearance has been set for May 3 in North Vancouver. To press time, the suspect’s had not been released by police. traffic issues in Ambleside and Dundarave. Left-turn lanes on Marine Drive at 15th and 17th streets, and left-turn restric- Uons at [4th and 16th streets were recommended in the stady. A pedestrian-activated traffic signal ac 18th and Marine was also suggested. Coun. Bill Soprovich, who chaired the traffic com- mittee, said council had “decided not to go ahead at this time” with specially-des- ignarcd left-turn lanes, although it wouldn't rule it out in the future. Instead, a left-turn arrow will be put in place at Marine Friday, March 17. 2000 ~ North Shore News - 13 New Marine Drive traffic regulations OK'd Drive and 27th. Such an arrow is already at the 15th Street intersection. Soprovich said) it was important to vary traffic con- trols: “If you make it consis- tent, itll just speed up traf- fic.” The installation of left- turn lanes would mean the loss of up to 40° parking spaces. The pedestrian-activated signal in Dundarave will cost around $40,000, according to director of operations Colin Wright — and the new crosswatk around $2,500. All other costs were described as “nominal.” Parking cime limits in Dieter’s Formula « Aids in fat metabolism « Helps increase energy due to caloric reduction @'aré open, 7 days a Wee nal consultants: tH as Ambleside have been a key issuc in recent weeks. At Monday's council meeting, Ambleside Business Association president Dina Zeitler presented a petition signed by 80% of local busi- ness owners in support of a two-hour time limit. Zeitler reminded council that shoppers with the time to browse along a particular block would probably take the opportunity to do so: “If you have a situation where a group of ladies are together for lunch, they’ll then go and look at other stores. If they don’t have two hours, they'll leave and they won’t come ras 8 With Citrus Seed Ren Ay) ‘Formule Diététique de Are you a clone of your canine? Do you resemble Rover? Bring your pet, whatever they are, and enter the Pet Look Alike Contest. Visit the Fido booth for details. See other pet related displays from 12-3pm including the obstacle course, doggy daycare, ‘ask the vet’, Noah’s Pet Ark. 250 stores filled with whatever you're into. Taylor Way and Marine Drive. West Vancouver 925 9576 www.shopparkroyal.com