18 — Friday, November 22, 1991 — North Shore News Proposed program to chart future erowth THROUGHOUT THE metropoli- tan area there are thousands of hectares of sensitive, undeviloped sites that are viewed by some as potential *‘suburbs-in-waiting.”” Others see them as lands that need to be protected from urban development, saying they have greater value as open spaces and ecological reserves than as sub- divisions. When preparing strategic devel- opment plans, the first step often is to identify the lands required to accommodate growth. The Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) wants to reserve that process with its proposed “Green Zone’’ program, asking first which lands, for the public good, should be protected from intensive urban development. The program is part of the GVRD’s ongoing ‘‘Creating Our Future”? initiative, which charts the course for a more livable region into the next century. Four categories of Green Zone IJands have been identified: @ Watersheds, floodplains and “hazard lands” (e.g., slopes with slide potential). @ Ecologically important lands, | including forested mountain arcas, wildlife nabitat, wetlands, etc. @ Recreational and scenic lands including major parks and recre- ation areas and key green areas that offer scenic vistas. @ Renewable resource lands, including agriculture and forestry lands; Many of the potential areas are currently protected because they are publicly controlled, but there are numerous potential sites, publicly and privately held, that are vulnerable. . To enhance the effectiveness of the project it will be important to link the sites in the ‘‘green net- work.” “The Green Zone’s role in maintaining and improving numerous aspects of Greater Van- couver’s livability is clear,’’ states a document setting out the framework for the project. “Ie will enhance outdcor recre- ation opportunities that keep us healthy individually and close to nature. It will protect insporiant scenic vistas that contribute so much to our sense of identity. It will help us maintain renewable resource-based economic activities and protect ecologically important lands, “It. will contribute to the over- all community health by protec- ting our drinking water supplies and by keeping urban growth away from hazardous lands..."” But, says the document, creating the zone will involve some hard choices. Municipalities will face the difficult task of iden- tifying lands to be permanently protected. Constraining land supply may put upward pressure on land prices. Some communities may face reduced growth rates which couid affect their tax base. “The ‘Green Zone’ concept can succeed only through the actions of the GVRD municipalities,” says a GVRD spokesman. “The municipalities would iden- tify the lands to be saved and take the necessary steps [0 protect them. The GVRD’s role would be to co-ordinate the program and provide a regional perspective on it when the municipal inventories are merged together.”’ For more information about the _*‘Green Zone’’ project call Nancy Knight, GVRD, at 432-6420, THE FIRST round of public forums on garbage reduction within the Greater Vancouver Regional District has conclud- ed. Over 40 submissions, letters and presentations were received and 185 people attended the forums. Forums with the highest public participation were those held in Vancouver Ss P and Pitt Meadows. The public is concerned about public education about waste reduction, expansion of the container deposit system and establishment of reuse and refill containers, user-pay con- cepts with incentives for people who reduce waste, the provi- sion of more opportunities for reduction of wastes going to ORT S ¢ Sports Experts, we believe thot skiess Hve for disposal and expanded public composting opportunities. The ideas and comments received during the public forums will now be turned into a report that will go to two advisory committees for evaluation before the second stage of the review begins in December of this year. A second round of public EX PER Garbage concerns aired at GVRD forum forums will be held next year to receive public commenti on recommended actions for waste reduction in the Lower Mainland. The GVRD plans to reduce the amount of solid waste pro- duced in the region by 50% by the year 2000 as part of its Creating Our Future initiatives for a_ healthier region. TS ike thelr bast perlornmmens, That's why cur fectante Sit Sale foateres the kind of performance onhancing equipment tha! only @ firsttisss menvfetturer ; Sa don't delay. Sey your & san provide. '92 RMI ski aqaizmont today and get ready to hit the NORDICA 482 R NoRDICA 562 S With it's mediou flex, the U382 is well suited for the udvondag slopes with new-found xatheszaum. MORDICA 127 jr Best suited for recreetions level shlors, This lightweight four frediticunt buckle hoot was designed for these whe prefer ihe everlop fog pre 274 99 A lightweight asd comlecteble bee! dedicated tv jualer skiers, fag wee 10419 MORDICA 427 This reer entry boot wes bull with the recreationel shize in iat Comlortoble, light aad reflable. it is equipped with « feretect atfestmont for a closer fit. Burnaby Breniwood Malt 299-1481 Burnaby Metrotown Centre 435-1975 Prices in effect while quontities last or until dosing Sunday, Decomber 1, 1991 North Vancouver Norgate Plaza MORDICA Lady Tech 7007 I this bee: is dedicated te ledies’ seeking exceptional sosctert, Kew instep retention with 0 hesiqued. Bag pres D099 Nanaimo Woodgrove Centre 390-4211 980-5781 DownTown Vancouver Pacific Centre 669-0494 We reserve the tight to limit quontities. All colours, models and sizes may not be cvoiloble at olf ovr stores, 79” Richmond Richmond Centre 273-1676 Port Coguitiam The Coquitlam Cen 464-5122 Guildford Town Centre 585-7293 Surrey tre Surrey Piace 582-0248