SRG te, - and low-density residential. While Matsumoto negotiates a sale agreement for the property, worth an estimated $2 million, a proposal from developer Ramrod Investments Ltd. for a residentia! development, including an cight and a 10-storey building and private marina, is going through the permit paces at North Van- couver District Municipal Hall. The planned move to increased densities in the area has some resi- istrict industry clears way tor redeveli THE IMPENDING closure of Matsumoto Shipyards this year will likely speli a radical change in the use of the Dollarton waterfront property currently zoned industrial home currently looks over the Matsumoto Shipyards and MacKenzie Barge and may be limited by the new buildings pro- posed. Roche Point Height residents met Thursday night to map out strategy to protest the proposal. District. council gave first con- PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT for the Matsumoto Shipyards site on the Dollarton waterfront. dents apprehensive. Said Roche Point Heights resi- dent Clive Walton: ‘‘The proposed high density is my main concern. The other concern is that if they get away with it here, more of the waterfront area will be opened up to high-rise development.’” - Walton was made aware of the proposed development after a neighbor, a real estate salesman, tried to’ sell a $200,000 home on Dollarton and the deal fell through. The prospective buyers learned of the high-rise proposal and backed off. But when Walton moved from Port Coquitlam into his new Blan- tyre Place home in June, he was told by the district that land use in the area would remain unchanged. The waterfront view from his sideration Jan. 11 to necessary zoning and official community plan bylaw changes to allow for the development, Municipal planner Kai Kreuchen maintains the view from tots in the area will be affected differently. “View is a subjective perception and any change is suspicious to the public. Some will look on it obli- quely and some directly."* But he said the view from Dollarton Highway ; will be im- proved. ‘“‘New glimpses will be af- forded by the thinning of trees and the removal of the Matsumoto building,’’ Kruechen said. To justify redevelopment on the 3.76-acre site, the developer has asked the district for a change from industrial to RH2 zoning. RH2 zoning allows for 204 dwell- ent ing units. While 154 units have been proposed, the district’s plan- ning department would like to see a scaled-down maximum of 136 units, resulting in a greater use of low-rise buildings and a limiting of the taller structures to five to six storeys. Current conceptual canstruction plans for the residential develop- ment include a private marina: a three-storey, approximately 48- unit, framed terrace building; an cight-storey building and a 10- storey building situated approx- imately 75-fect apart, containing a combined total of 100 units; and a public walkway along the water- front. “We want to see a scaling down of the mid-rise buildings,"’ Kreuchen said. Kreuchen said if the Ramrod proposal gocs through, the district will likely see applications for resi- dential development from the pro- pertics immediately adjacent east and west of the Matsumoto site. Located south of Dollarton Highway near Cates Park, the Matsumoto Shipyards and nearby McKenzie Barge industrial sites are considered anomolies in what is primarily a residential and recre- ationally-zoned area. The shipyard’s founder, Sam Matsumoto, said he is close to closing a deal with Ramrod to seil the property. “Right now we have to go through the rezoning process,’’ Matsumoto said, ‘Until things develop more, I'm still in business. Thope to finish it off this year." The shipyard has been located at the site for close to 40 years. At the height of activity, the shipyard employed 150 workers. The business brought in approximately $5 million annual revenues from 1979 to 1983. By the summer of 1987, with the shipbuilding industry depressed, there were as few as six employees working at the facility. According to Kreuchen, subject to market demands and the dura- tion of the policy and planning process, the new residential development could be up in the next year and a half. A public meeting on development proposal has been set for Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Sher- wood Park School. Extra Victoria funding for health board doubted | | NDEX From page 1 45 from its portion of what was a five-eway funding partnership and the possible withdrawal of District 44, which. pays the biggest single funding share, could, Day said, leave ‘‘the three municipalities stuck with one hell of a bill.”’ A rumored reduction from $71 to $20 in per, capita provincial health funding..for students could force District 44 to follow District 45 in opting out of the current NSUBH funding agreement. Without municipal health con- tributions, which come directly from local. municipal taxes, ‘‘the whole thing would collapse,’’ Day said. : But Dr. Brian O’Connor, the North Shore’s chief medical health officer, said, though the North Shore health department would go through an extremely difficult time if municipal funding were cut, ‘‘I don't think the health system would disappear. I think the pro- vincial government would be obliged to keep it going. There has to be a health department in some form.” A Ministry of Health spokesman echoed ministry statements made in the Jan. 10 News story that the _ ministry is aware of the North Shore’s funding inequities and that provision for initial redress of the problem would be included in its submission to the spring provincial budget, ‘‘but we’re not holding out much hope.’’ He added that if the municipalities decided to pull out of NSUBH funding, ‘‘there is not much the ministry can do about it.’ Day said he doubted whether additional funds would be approv- ed in the budget. North Vancouver District Mayor Marilyn Baker said if no new money is found, the provincial government should redistribute more equitably among the metro- politan health boards the funds that are currently available. In addition to home care and long-term care, NSUBH services include public health nursing, speech pathology, nutrition, dental _ and mental health programs and public health inspection. the. 3- Friday, January 22, 1988 - North Shore News Volie y time USS rear nese! Rls NEWS phote Tom Burley VOLLEYBALL ACTION, fast-paced but friendly, takes place be- tween co-ed teams al the Mickey McDougall Gym in North Van- couver. Both competitive and recreational games are played. Anyone interested in participating is invited to call John at 988-6166 or Donna at 984-4181. NEWS’ NEWEST ADDITION That's entertainment! NORTH SHORE Now, the North Shore News’ new pull- out entertainment and dining guide, kicks off today on page 15 with new features, columnists and events listings. Included among today's North Shore Now features are music and film reviews and Around Town, our new entertainment listing of dance, gallery, theatre and pub and club events. Tablehopping Timothy Renshaw continues his restaurant reviews in North Shore Now, guiding readers through the often tangled dining jungle of the North Shore and Vancouver. Classified Ads.......30. Doug Collins......... 9 Editorial Page....... 6 Home & Garden......23 Bob Hunter......... 4 Miailbox............ 7 Now............... 15 TV Listings..........29 What's Going On.....14 You can also read North Shore Now each Friday for comprehen- sive profiles of local entertainment personalities. Up and coming or established, their hopes, dreams and achievements will be chronicl- ed in this regular Now feature. Covering local entertainment from top to bottom, North Shore Now is the place to look for what — and who — is hot on the local dining and entertainment fronc. Weather: Rain and windy, Friday. Highs near 8°C. Saturday, periods of rain.