nent to advance

Development proposal will go to public hearing

IN ONE of many split votes
recently, North Vancouver
City Council voted 5-2 to
allow a development permit
for the 100-block [ast 2nd
Avenue to be considered and
referred to a public hearing.

NORTH VANCOUVER
CITY COUNCIL
By Greg Felton

oy

The proposal concerns a request
from Roger Romses architects for a
51-foot high residential complex to
be built on a mid-block 50 by 120
sq. ft. lot. Plans call for 11 apart-
ment dwellings of various sizes and
13 parking spaces.

“7 just can’t visualize a 6,000 sq.
ft. lot housing 11 units and 13
secured parking stalls,” said Coun.
Stella Jo Dean.

- Dean criticized specific aspects
of the proposal, such as the lack of
visitors parking, a ground-level rear
setback of only two fect instead of
the required 10 feet, the lack of
sunlight due to the neighboring
buildings, and the fact that the bal-
conies were not considered in cal-

culating the floor space ratios
(FSRs),

“We have to stop to think how
many people will be living in 6,000
sq. ft. E just can’t buy it,” she said.

Coun, John Braithwaite also
objected because of the issue of
parking, but council approved the
proposal, largely because of the
efforts the applicant made to
address earlier concerns.

Council denied an initial devel-
opment request last November
largely over height. The overall
height is fewer than two feet above
the allowable height of 50 feet, but
still within the 75-foot maximum
under the Official Community Plan.

Density was also reduced from
61% to 35% above the second
storey, which in turn reduced the
amount of parking stalls required.
City planner Ken White said that

‘the parking ratio of 1.2 stails per

suite meets minimum standards,

Over all, White said the propos-
al is a better project than could
have been accomplished without
rezoning.

Mayor Jack Loucks and Coun.
Bill Bell were the project’s
strongest supporters. They said the
developer was making the most of
an awkward piece of land and has

acted to meet councils objections.

“Unless the city wants to buy up
these (difficult) properties, (the
developers) deserve at least a pub-
lic hearing,” said Loucks,

Braithwaite said meeting coun-
cil’s major concerns over height,
density and parking was not
enough. “When staff tells us the
project is ready for a public hearing
because it overcame the majority of
concerns ... what about the others?”

The initial plans also called for
second-storey commercial develop-
ment atop the residences, but the
Advisory Planning Committee
“rejected it, said Dean, because of
inadequate access for the disabled.

The proposal does not include
commercial development because
of site restrictions.

Dean’s final objection con-
cerned views.

Because the chamber of. com-
merce is planning a one-storey
building across from this site, Dean
asked White if prospective resi-
dents could be asked to sign a
covenant to forestall any com-
plaints about lost views.

White said the land titles office
does not like restrictive covenants,
but that he would look into the mat-
ter if council requests it.

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