RX Wednesday. July BS) 1900 Nocth Shore News Seniors housing decision delayed COUNCIL AWAITS STAFF REPORT ON PROPERTIES’ DEVELOPMENT THE Gb OC USHON Gn ree se tan tMtah seniors’ housing prayeet oan West Vatreeaser has heen delasead until Tunis 2% BeMAURERSN CURTIS Core hatin Woriree While some West Vancouver Ditret Council members were teady to sate July 9 on the rezon- ing of West Vancouver Baptist Church property to make way for the development, council voted instead for a staff report on the issue. “| am prepared to vote. | am totally opposed to this,’” declared Ald. Rod Day at the end of the public hearing which had dragged on over three separate Monday nights. On the first two Mondays, public submissions on the propos- ed 40-unit) Kirkside development were limited to an hour, allowing council to deal with other items on the agenda, But the limit failed to deter the stream of residents speaking for and against the project from returning, week after week, to state their opinions to council. At the end of the hearing, Ald. Mark Sager, like Ald. Day, said be had heard enough and was ready to vote. But) Ald. Alex Brokenshire’s motion to table the issue pending a staff report was given majority council support. Despite pleas from West Van- couver Mayor Don Lanskail to keep public submissions brief and non-repetitive, speakers brought up the same arguments that had been voiced when the issue was in- itially debated months ago. Project proponents stressed the urgent need for affordable seniors’ housing in West Van- couver. But residents from the area around the Baptist church, which is located just above the Upper Levels Highway in the British Properties, were largely opposed ta the project, which they say will increase traffic in an area with limited access that is already home to its share of such community services as three churches, a ceme- tery and Hugo Ray Park. They also claimed that the site is unsuitable for seniors because it is distant from services and amen- tities but close to the noisy high- way, “It’s a poor use of a very poor location,’’ submitted Mrs. Dunn of Hadden Drive. The two-acre property, accord- ing to resident Stephen Given, was expropriated from Hugo Ray by the province for highway widening and was being pursued for pur- chase by the municipality until the Baptist church bought it to use for parking. With the a OED ds reorganization of other holdings, church — officials concluded that the land was no longer needed and decided to make it available for the devel- opment of affordable — seniors’ housing. But’ Given said the site was needed for parking, and pointed to parking that regularly overflows onto area streets. The residents have the support of the British Properties and Area Homeowners Association, which lobbies for the protection of long established areas and against the construction of any condominium, aparument or townhouse devel- opment within its boundaries. But said West Vancouver Bap- tists Church Deacon John Ewans, “The character of a civilization or a community is reflected by how it treats its youth and its elderly citi- zens.” Another church member, Pat Lily, described today's senior citi- zens as knowing what they want and saying so, as iustrated by the growth of ‘grey power™’. “Ask yoursell, (What am - do- ‘DISTRICT COUNCIL ie tor semis” housmye babs said fo coun miesbers Bob Rogers stressed semrors’ need for independence and finan: cialoosecurity, while church employee Remon: said oa two-day traffic count she had taken in the area indicated a three-per-cent trattic inerease would result from the new devel- opment. Jack r RON ZALKO HEALTH CLUB nies Hheusite’ ats di wast tesohitiy oof fenansst domed ham te wow othe wboap suiale family mere saluabie mudtuple tamibs ces Ipnation. ies thett bs revzonimy, seniors as a gun porntgd at coun oiPs head. said Bemie Cablwent. But church spokesman bowans said he was “deeply offended’ bs intimations that the church wets involved in profiteering stsdtiat 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION / SUMMER SPECIAL! INTERNATIONAL PLAZA COMPLEX 1989 Marine Drive NORTH SHORE 986-3487 RON ZALKO FITNESS CONNECTIO! 2660 W th Ave KITSILANO 736-0341 Start Your Spring Garden Now SOLAR PRISM GREENHOUSE Coed Phas. Pe Diabet we harst Cost aitie col SP.ARTAL PRICE SDAYS ONLY See Us At PARR & TILEOKD CENTRE 334 Brooksbank Ave.. V.Van,. Thars.. Pri. Sat. Badly 09-21 12 me | tas tse fagmdatoon ¢ rer Heat tur $25 HS OUINSe nie Specias ntradictors offer tor aess than hou Gan Gabe of Gl a Come ntti! RON ZALKO MUSCLE CONNECTION DCB IW atti Ave KITSILANO 736-0341