MAILBOx

WESTVIEW PARKING PROBLEMS

Developer shares shoppers’ concerns

Dear Editor:

We feel we must reply to a letter
from E. Alder in your Oct. 4 issue.
As the owners of Westview Shopp-
ing Centre, we appreciate the
frustration expressed by Mr. Alder
and we share his and our other
shoppers’ concerns about the
perceived parking difficulties on
our lot.

We must say, however, that we
resent the allegation that this prob-
lem has arisen because we have
“greedily tried 10 squeeze every
last dollar from the space.”’

We cannot expect Mr. Alder, or
any other shopper, to fully appre-
ciate the nature of the difficulties
we faced during our renovation
program at this centre, nor will we
attempt te explain or excuse
ourselves to anyone.

There are, nevertheless, certain
comments we wish to make:

© The economic realities of de-
velopment today require that pro-
perties be utilized as fully as possi-
ble recognizing acceptable industry
standards for retail parking ratios.

The tight parking situation at
Westview Shopping Centre could
have been avoided if the City of
North Vancouver had been more
flexible in the application of its
bylaw.

We could have reduced the
number of car spaces slightly and
provided wider car stalls and sti}!
remained well within accepted in-
dustry guidelines but our requests
for such consideration were
denied.

©The entrance and exit ce-
alignments were imposed on us by
the Ministry of Transportation and
Highways. We acknowledge that
they are not ideal, but we believe
they are a significant improvement
over the previous arrangement,
and are the best possible scenario
given the other constraints on this
site.

@ Since our re-opening we have
been attempting to deal with the
parking problem, which has been
apparent to us from the outset. We
have hired consultants and spent
considerable time and money in at-
tempting to find appropriate solu-

Press City Council for solution

Dear Editor:

We feel it essential to respond to
the open letter you published from
E. Alder of North Vancouver who
is promoting a consumer boycott
of Westview Plaza.

The correspondent, frustrated
by vehicle hassles and related in-
conveniences, has targeted the de-
veloper as the party to be ostraciz-
ed for the alleged state of affairs at
the plaza.

Were your readers to comply
with Alider’s suggestion, the first
people to suffer would be the mer-
chant taxpayers at the plaza and
only subsequently the developer
Jandlord and eventuaily the com-
munity as a whole.

The merchants at Westview,
some of whom have been there for
many years, were encouraged to
make long-term financial com-
mitments with the assurance that

the re-development project would
be a viable one, and one which
would adequately address the
problems cited in Alder’s letter.

After the project got under way
certain features were abandoned
and others altered or postponed. If
these or other factors have resulted
in an unacceptable situation then
ihe question should be asked, why
has the City of North Vancouver
administration let it happen?

There are still things which
could be done to establish the
plaza as a desirable place to shop
both for local citizens and those
who travel on the adjacent high-
way. We therefore urge your con-
cerned readers to press North Van
City to seek a solution to the ex-
asperating problems that have
arisen from this project.

Merchants of Westview Shopping
Centre

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tions.

These solutions were presented
to the municipality in July for their
consideration. We are continuing
discussions towards receiving
municipal approvals for a revised
parking and teaffic circulation.

We consider ourselves to be
responsible corporate citizens and
we always try to balance our in-
vestment criteria with the needs of
the community. Unfortunately, the
municipal process sometimes
makes quick solutions difficult to
achieve.

With the cooperation of the
municipality and our shoppers, we
will shortly solve the current prob-
lem of tight parking spaces. We
ask our customers to bear with us.
Gary H. McDonald
Senivr vice-president,
ment
Adams Coscan Partners

Develoop-

Performing well on winter roads is a real chal-
lenge so pet your act together now!

First, your vehicle. Put on those winter tires,
change the oil, add antifreeze and make sure
the battery, windshield wipers, belts, brakes and

lights are in top shape.

Second, your driving. Winter driving calls for
special skills when you're starting, following,
braking, or fd yourself in a skid, hydroplaning

orstuck in snow. Be ready.

You're not alone out there. The B.C. Road

7 - Sunday, October 29, 1989 - North Shore News

DRAPERIES

BY S. LAURSEN

CUSTOM DRAPERIES
AND VALANCES

Labour $6.50 per panel
unlined, $7.50 lined.
CUSTOM BEDSPREADS
AND COVEKS

Low, low prices on blinds
and tracks

For FREE Estimates
Call 987-2966

Serving the North Shore for 18 years.

ZABS), O78

THAT'S HOW MANY
CANADIANS ARE
SOFTBALL PLAYERS

Builders & Heavy Construction Association mem-
bers are on the road seven days a week monitor-
ing and assessing, putting up winter signape,
keeping roads clear with plows, sand and salt.

As well, the three groups below have pro-
duced a booklet of winter driving tips.Get one,
tree, atany of their offices.

Finally, call the Road Information number below
whenever you're setting out on the winter road.

The Winter Roadshow is about to begin.
Together, let's drive safely all the way to Spring!

For Up-to-the-Minute Road Information, call

1-860-663-HWYS

toutside the Lower Mainland)

Mirustry of Transportation and Highways.
Hon Ned Vant, Minister

660-9775
(within the Lower Mainland)
ROAD BUILDERS —_
A eee F trattic Safety Directorate
< . and Motor Vehicle Granch
Minstry of Sokcitor General

ASSOCIATION
Hon Angus Ree, Soticitor General