Seniors’ project receives housing council support 36-unit facility in Norgate area NORTH VANCOUVER District Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve second and third reading of a rezoning amendment. that will allow the Capilano Lions Housing Society to build a 36-unit seniors’ housing project in the Norgate area. By Martin Millerchip Contributing Writer ‘ Council will delay final approv- al of the bylaw until the Lions confirm that their application for funding has been approved by the BCHMC (British Columbia Hous- ing and Mortgage Corp.). : "A decision is expected to bean nounced in July, but the Lions hope. that the municipal support demonstrated by’ pre-approving NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL businesses located on Marine Drive and serviced by the lane be- tween them and the properties on West 16th. Garth Mossop, who owns a business on Marine Drive, sug- gested that the proposed building be sited further towards West 16th, but a staff report argued that while ‘‘a few parallel parking spaces could be accommodated in a widened Imne ... the resulting traffic problems from the use of these stalls would undoubtedly be worse.”’ Ald. Janice Harris acknowl- edged the traffic problems in the area, but proposed moving for- ward with the process because ‘‘it fills a need for our aging popula- tion.”’ Harris characterized the project - Save On Foods MARINE DRIVE | | BRIDGMAN AVENUE the necessary rezoning will Jead to their Project’s selection for fund- ing. The proposed complex will be sited on five lots on the north side of West 16th Street, adjacent to Bridgman Avenue. Its building density will be approximately 15% greater than any multi-family housing. thus far built in the district. . The density results in part from the number of the units required to make the project financially feasible and the small size of each unit (approximately 600 sq. ft.). The Norgate Park Community Association told council at a Jan. 14 public hearing on the project that it does not want to see the same type of high density extend- ed to the rest of the block. Complaints were also raised at the same public hearing about the lack ‘of: area parking from WEST 16TH STREET PEMBERTON AVENUE — PROPOSED SENIORS’ HOUSING SITE as perfect for ‘‘empty nest seniors’? whose children have grown up and no longer need, or can no longer afford, larger ac- commodation. . Ald. Ernie Crist said the allega- tions of ‘‘spot rezo~ing’? made during the public hearing were “not valid’? and pointed out that Staff are already working on an overall plan for the area. Ald. Jim Cuthbert said that he would have preferred the approval process to have been part of that plan and the density reduced to accommodate 33 units rather than Cuthbert said, however, that he could support the rezoning based on ‘‘demonstrated need’? and “assurances from our planning department that this project will not compromise the overall devel- opment of the area.”” Index @ Trevor Lautens ........ 4 W Mailbox .............. 7 Wi Paul St. Pierre ......... 9 @ Editorial Page ......... @ GW What's Going On ...... 12 #8 Home & Garden ....... 43 M@Zap........0....0.... 18 Weather Saturday, cain, Sunday showers, Highs 8°C, lows 0°C. Second Class Registration Number 3865 NEWS photo Nike Wakefield WEST VANCOUVER Cecuncil has agreed to s:iow the installation of more culverts along Lawson Creek as a result of recent renovations at the Royal Canadian Legion on 18th Street in West Vancouver. West Van allows legion to extend Lawson Creek culvert: ALTHOUGH WEST Vancouver . District Mayor Mark Sager said council is unanimously opposed to any further culverting of West Vancouver creeks, council agreed Monday night to have another 60 feet of Lawson Creek covered. The Royal Canadian Legion on 18th Street in West Van- couver has been renovating its facility and parking lot; addi- tional culverts covering Lawson Creek will give the legion more open space outside that can be attractively landscaped. Although Lawson Creek is covered with culverts from the legion to Burrard Inlet, Debbie Walker of Ripple Road called council’s decision so allow ad- ditional culverting of the creek in exchange for parking ‘‘ir- responsible,.’’ But local resident Ed Guy, who has raised many concerns about the legion’s expansion and its effects on area parking and traffic, agreed with coun- cil's decision to enclose the creek. . “(I believe,” Guy said, ‘‘that creeks should be retained in their natural state as much as possible, where possible. In this case it is not possibie.”’ Death crash driver gets By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer Guy said the open part of the creek would be no more than an ugly ‘concrete ditch,” which might be a hazard to children. “As a creek, that section is going to be dead. If you're go- ing to have to bury it, make darn sure there'll be nice flowers on the grave,’’ said Guy. Council had previously agreed that the creek in the Jower part of the legion’s property be enclosed in a culvert to provide the legion with more space for badly needed parking. The rest of the creek was to temain open. Since then, two adjcining properties have been under redevelopment, and changes have been made east of the THE DRIVER of a runaway dump truck that crashed into a van full of holiday travellers at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in July 1990, killing two people, was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in jail. Jatinderpal Singh Ubhi, 25, was found guilty by a jury in November on two counts of crim- inal negligence causing death and five counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. On Wednesday, B.C. Supreme Court Mr. Justice Randall Wong sentenced Ubhi to two concurrent 18-month sentences on the crimi- nal negligence causing death charges and five concurrent six- month sentences on the remaining five counts. Ubhi was also prohibited from driving for five years. The maximum sentence for criminal negligence causing death is life in prison; the maximum sentence for criminal negligence By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter causing bodily harm is 10 years in prison. Crown prosecutor Joe Bellows said Thursday, “I. am going to review the case and decide (whether) to appeal.’’ On July 9, 1990, driver Ubhi and partner Kuldiv Dail, 37, were travelling in an A-1 Paving Ltd. truck that was filled with hot asphalt at about 7:30 a.m. The truck lost its brakes after leaving a mandatory brake-check station atop a 12% grade hill near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal. The speeding truck eventually ee eee WEST VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL legion property, including the removal of trees around the creek. To the south, the culvert was placed under a new apartment, which affected the creek’s loca- tion on legion property. The creek’s position had to be altered to improve its flow and even out-its grade. The creek is now deeper on the south side, and, according to legion officials, would re- quire fencing as a_ safety precaution. “This will increase the can- yon-like appearance of the waterway. We are sure it will be found to be undesirable,”’ wrote legion secretary J.N. McMillan. Although there is a move- ment within the community to prevent further creek culvert- ing, ‘and perhaps even to reclaim some of the ‘dead” creeks, Sager said that even with a fish ladder it would be’ impossible for fish to get up the three blocks of Lawson Creek from the ocean. 18 months crashed into a Ford passenger van, which was the only vehicle in lane four waiting to board a ferry. Reta Pestell, 41, of Etobicoke, Ont., and her nine-year-old daughter Shawna Marie were kill- ed in the crash. . Reta’s husband and seven- year-old daughter were injured in the accident along with three Kelowna residents. Ubhi and Dail both received minor injuries. . A B.C. Coroner’s inquest into the accident found no evidence that Ubhi checked his brakes when he stopped at the mandatory brake-check station. Coroner Kenneth Pitt said the brake-slack adjusters on all four rear brakes of the truck ‘“‘had ob- viously not been adjusted in some time’? and Ubhi had been told his truck was overweight with asphalt before leaving a North Vancouver plant.