im choppy Pending bylaw change could allow business JACQUELINE WILKIE is working on a second genera- tion of tadpoles in her back- yard swimming pool. NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL By Martin Millerchip After 16 years of teaching chil- dren to swim in the pool of her Dollarton home it is not surprising to learn that Wilkie is now coaching the children of those who feared the water in 1979. Some of her three-year-old stu- dents have gone on to become swim team members and lifeguards. Even Mayor Murray Dykeman’s grandchildren have taken swimming lessons from Wilkie. But unless North Vancouver District Council amends its zoning bylaw, Wilkie will be forced to shut down Jackie’s Swim School. And that news has dismayed past and present swim students from across the North Shore. “1 like that swimming pool. The temperature is right and I do not want it closed down,” seven-year-old Ben Kelly told council Monday. Kelly was one of at least 50 parents and children who braved. snow and freezing rain to support Wilkie’s request that her swimming lesson business be allowed as a home occupation. Speaker after speaker told council that Wilkie’s ‘lessons worked when lessons at recreation commission pools had failed. : They cited smaller classes, individual attention, warmer water, a less threatening environment and the fact that the instructor didn’t change every lesson as rea~ sons for success with children already fearful of swim- ming pools. In fact, instructors at the Ron Andrews pool actually refer some children to Wilkie, who has had success with blind, deaf and physicatly challenged children. Her little school is so successful that Wilkie can no _ longer cope with all those who want lessons. She is run- ning a waiting list. She told council that she only teaches from March to October and that she does not operate on weekends, statutory holidays and most Fridays. Factoring in an additional three weeks of holidays, Wilkie figures she only operated for a total of 117 days last year at a maximum of six hours per day. But her 16 years of complaint-free operation ended ‘Own a Piece of History Discovery on : Vancouver Island NEWS photo JACQUELINE WILKIE has taught children to swim in her North Van home poo! for years. She faces a zoning bylaw challenge. last year with two complaints about noise and traffic. But the noise complaint related to the other family business - a bookbindery, an enterprise her husband is willing to relocate. The pool is covered by an air-supported dome which serves to minimize noise to the neighborhood. Wilkie’s supporters point out that she provides off- road parking for four or five cars on her property and her corner lot has plenty of curb space. Parents say Wilkie constantly reminds them not to park in front of neighboring properties. But the complaints drew the attention of the district's bylaw enforcers who discovered that Wilkie does not have a business licence for her swim school. Wilkie told council that because she had a licence for the book bindery she was told she did not need another when she applied 16 years ago. She said she was only told to rope off the shallow end of the pool and provide adequate changing and washroom facilities, which she did. Permits and licence staff maintain they were unaware of the swim school business until the com- plaint. A swimming school is not an allowable use under present zoning. Councillors appeared sympathetic to Wilkie's request for a zoning amendment with Coun. Jim Cuthbert pointing to “well over 100 letters” of support. Council unanimously supported Cuthbert’s motion directing staff to prepare appropriate bylaw amend- ments. Such amendments will receive a public hearing. Coun. 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