PROPANE EXPLOSION AFTERMATH 3 ~ Wednesday, January 14, 1987 ~ North Shore News iternative fuel restrictions lorth Vancouver Stalled in BYLAW CHANGES restricting the sale and storage of alternate fuels in the City of North Vancouver were put on hold Monday after industry representatives urged council to wait until B.C. fire chiefs try to work out new regulations. Propane Gas Association of Canada representative Ron Poustie told the public hearing that alter- nate fuel regulations should not be developed by the city. “We feel that there will be con- siderable confusion and com- promise in safety if each municipality enacts its own set of gas regulations and standards.’** Instead, he suggested, the city should mect with ‘‘regulatory authorities and all levels of gov- By STEPHEN BARRIN News Reporter ernment’? to develop propane and natural gas regulations. “The Propane Gas Association of Canada would like to go on re- cord that we have a concern that local restrictive bylaws prepared without consultation with industry and fire safety experts might be compromising safety,"' he said. Differing rules in each municipality would lead to confu- sion and possible accidents, he said. “It would be difficult’ for everyone to comply.”’ Cyril White, president of the Natural Gas Vehicle Association of British Columbia, said a restrictive bylaw change ‘tis not the correct way fo g0."" “We feel the regulatory bodies should set up the regulations,”* he said. Lionel Kenner, who lives near the Pay-N-Save gas station destroyed by a propane fire Sept. 25, said that regulations would not stop similar fires. “The propane tank that caught NEWS photo Terry Peters READY FOR Robbie Burns Day are these three you-gsters. Left Catriona Morrison holds up the haggis while Rochelle Steariha dances and Gordon Wilson plays the bagpipes. The annual Burns dinner will be hetd Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Eagles Hall on Third Street. Call 988-8803 or 987-0195 for tickets. Public air development views From page 2 ly about 10 per cent would mean more of the fragile natural en- vironment will be preserved, they said. - “How will you protect the area ecologically with a single-family development?”’ asked Anable, who showed how the Westhills single- family residence grouping had denuded’ the area. The parcel in question is currently zoned for single families. Davidson used slides and draw- ings to show how little the propos- ed building would alter the views of any higher residences and be accessible from only one road out of Cypress Bowl. Ancore also cited the Communi- ty Plan’s stated intention for West Vancouver to accommodate its share of growth in the Lower Mainland, adding that on the con- trary, West Vancouver has seen practically zero growth since 1970. Ancore was supported by a number of local residents as well as the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. Chamber president William Soprovich spoke of the business community’s concern with the limited population and com- mercial growth in the municipality. “The authors of the Community Plan had the foresight to recognize that changes were inevitable and that provisions had to be made to meet new conditions,’’ Soprovich said. Several residents made it clear that they liked zero growth in West Vancouver. However, there was also applause for J.W.C. Tomlin- son, who criticized the ‘‘I’m in, so pull up the drawbridge,’’ attitude, saying it was short-sighted. Tomlinson said the proposed development occupying just 10 per cent of the parcel was '‘far more attractive than a 1.5 unit per acre development crowded with enor- mous single dwelling units.” Ancore also had the support of West Van Real Estate Board president Fred Brown because of the need for that kind of accom- modation in West Vancouver. But former Ald. Doreen Blackburn spoke against the pro- posal, reminding council that the area in question had been zoned for 1.5 units per acre due to the sloped and rocky terrain. Blackburn questioned the rezon- ing of the Ancore land, ‘... with already so much land to the east zoned at 2.5 units to the acre, ready to be developed."’ She saw no reason to comply with the request of one person who actually owns only a couple of acres of the land to be developed, which he purchased knowing the current zoning. : Ancore has an option which runs out Feb. 24 to purchase the remaining land. “We haven’t yet heard a reason to change the density as set down in the Community Plan of 1980,"" agreed Capt. Murrell of the Ambleside-Dundarave Ratepayers. “The project itself seems to be well thought out, but why can’t it proceed under the rules that now exist, like everyone else?’’ Murrell queried. Resident Joseph Whiteside was concerned that the extra 17 acres needed for the density transfer would not be attached to the parcel to be developed. West Vancouver Residents for Controlled Growth said the municipality is already crowded, and that the new development will put excessive demands on local fa- cilities, including Lions Gate Bridge. The public hearing was adjourn- ed to allow municipal staff to come up with a report. The hear- ing will reconvene, Feb. 2, location still undetermined. fire had satisfied every safety check,’* Kenner said. ‘‘The valve, which had been inspected and found to be okay, failed.”’ Propane should be stored 500 metres from a residential area, he suggested. **However careful they are there can be a failure and any failure can be a disaster,’ he said. ‘It's too dangerous to be near residential areas.”* Mohawk Ol representative Patrick Williams said proposed ci- ty restrictions on alternate fuels were ill-founded in light of the company’s good safety record. The Third Street Mohawk sta- tion has applied to install a 5,000- gallon propane tank, more than three times the size of its existing 1,500-gallon tank. This new tank, Williams said, is safer because fewer refills are nec- essary. “They have a very good safety record and they have had no pro- blems since 1981 (when propane sales began).’’ Council's move to restrict the sale and storage of alternate fuels came after the Sept. 25 propane fire at the Third Street Pay-N-Save gas station. On Feb. 3, the B.C. Fire Chiefs’ Association will examine draft regulations designed to provide greater public protection. NO INDUSTRIAL USE IN PROPOSAL New P&T ma plan shot down A REVISED shopping centre plan for the Park and Tilford site faltered Monday as council decided the plan does not meet necessary industrial use requirements. The smaller 15-acre shopping centre proposal does not include the five acres of industrial land needed for city council to initially approve the project. “T’m sorry to see this,’’ lamented Ald. Elko Kroon, the deciding vote on the plan, and the one who said five acres industrial use be included in the plan. “I wanted to see a site plan with some industrial use,’’ said Kroon. “If it isn’t submitted then it isn’t before us and { can’t let it go past.” But Hyland Turnkey president Barry Carruthers, acting on behalf of property owner Schenley Canada, said negotiations are . underway with an industrial user. Carruthers would not name the company, but in a letter to council he indicated the firm is ‘‘responsi- ble for’? such television shows as A-Team and Stingray. Stephen J. Cannell Productions is the producer of these television shows, Hyland Turnkey is working to complete the negotiations and had hoped to have a plan for the Mon- Weather: Wednesday and Thursiday mostly sunny. Highs near 4. By STEPHEN BARRINGTON News Reporter , day council meeting, Carruthers told the mayor and aldermen. The new, smaller 15-acre pro- posal contains a 70,000-square- foot Save-On-Foods store and a 30,000-square-foot Cineplex Odeon multi-screen cinema com- plex. An earlier 20-acre proposal con- tained an 81,000-square-foot Save-On-Foods store and a 40,000-square-foot Cineplex Odeon multi-screen cinema. Both plans include the Park and Tilford Gardens and smaller retail units. Although Ald. Ralph Hall sug- gested council reconsider approv- ing the plan, the move was shot down in a 4-3 vete as Kroon failed to support the new proposal. “T think if we start picking this thing apart and submitting it in parts I should have capitulated a year ago, which I’m not prepared to do,”’ he said of the ‘incomplete’ shopping centre proposal. INDEX Auto.............. 26 Business . . wee 3G Classified Ads.......43 Doug Collins..... Comics . . Editorial Page.... Bob Hunter...... Lifestyles .... Mailbox...... Sports...... TV Listings...... What's Going On.