OV aAt inside the news Business... 16 & Classifieds .35 BF COWS. ccs COMICS. 20 Crossword... 40 Hunter cscs 7 a Insights. & BA Ma DO, oo cecseeeseseneee B f@ Municipal Affairs...11 g@N. Shore Alart........... Shore Shots........ BE TrAVED ec cssnscceeseen DS mM TV Listings................18 Vintage Years............17 & Wright.......... see features 2 Wedding gift idea guide: Pacific Open Golf Tournament set: 25 31 fashion B& Retail datails for savvy shoppers: w Developing a feel for fabric: 73 14 Ast & Hanes Lonsdale Edgemont . Peep Cove West Yan. rosea oP abeet ah maa | ENED —— Monday: Mainly cloudy, High 18°C, low 93°C. NEWS photo Bred Ledaidge THE NORTH Vancouver RCMP investigate an accident scene on Thursday. A North Vancouver woman was killed by a bus. The woman's body was removed after the bus was towed for a mechanical inspection. See story on page 3. Thousands sign preservation petition MORE THAN 5,000 residents cast of the Seymour River have signed a peti- tion in favor of preserving forest in their community. By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter Mountain and Cove forest urban reserves are located on ihe slope of Mount Seymour and are slated to be the site for 2,160 homies. The area is scheduled for residential devel- opment some lime after the turn of the century, according ta the 1985 Official Community Plan (OCP) for the area. - Residents opposed to residential develop- ment of the forests have mobilized now because North Vancouver District (NVWD) council: is looking at surveying the area. Said anti-develepment spokesman Anita Sandhoeiner, “I's nota NEMBY or hug the tree issue.” She said traffic congestion atone would become unmanageable if the two forests are developed in addition to the Northlands resi- “dential development. “We still have this massive bridge-highway problem which exists with the current popula- tion, never mind adding another 12,000 peo- ple.” said Sandhoefner. She said there are other new residential developments by the Tsleilwaututh (Burrard Band) to take into consideration as well. Sandhoefner, a spokesman for GUARD (Group United Around Responsible Development ) said the group's petition will be presented to district council al tomorrow night’s meeting. Coun. Jim Cuthbert will present a bylaw amendment for the OCP that would designate the two forest reserves for park, recreation and open spuce instead of urban residential. “This bylaw amendment allows for full pub- fic input through the public hearing process so there would be a further opportunity to further gauge the opinion of residents across the dis- trict,” said Cuthbert. Cuthbert is the ealy council member who lives east of the Seymour River. He says the area has a population of 21.450. “It's clear the community has spoken loud and clear on this issue,” he said. One council member who will likely oppose eran ‘SHOR MOEN C Ostet Cuthbert’s motion is Don Bell. “I’m committed to a process that allows complete public involvement. It may be so important that we should take prompt action, but there is nothing pending. We are talking seven to 10 years away (before any residential development would be allowed),” said Bell. He said the same broad, informed and exten- sive public process that resulted in the OCP should apply to any revision. Bell says that he personally supports preser- vation of most of the forest areas in their natur- al treed condition as a wilderness park. “E don’t usually, before an issue has been decided, express my personal opinion. My job is to listen to everybody, but | haven’t been fighting with the people as to what should hap- pen, I agree,” said Bell. He added that simply because there is a peti- tion, he was not going to act in a “knee-jerk kind of way.” Meanwhile Sandhoefner said that the dis- trict should not bother to waste its time and morey on a lengthy process to review the Seymour OCP. “There doesn't seem to be a valid reason Ic go forth with it... revising the OCP is.aot a faci finding mission. the social issues sre already obvious. ‘Fhe community has spoken,” said Sandhoefner.