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NEWS photo Miko Wakefield

ROAD CONSTRUCTION work has begun at the corner of Delbrook and Queens in
North Vancouver. Road work across the North Shore is causing delays in traffic.

Public to be consulted

on twin towers issue

WEST VANCOUVER Mayor Don Lanskail publicly ad-
mitted Monday night that West Vancouver District Council
had erred in its handling of the proposed twin tower
development at 320 Taylor Way, and will now be calling for
community-wide consultation on the issue.

“Our mistake was in assuming
that the public debate of 198) and
the zoning decision which followed
later that year had resolved the
issue of development of the
municipally-owned land,’’ ex-
plained Lanskail.

The passage of time, changing
circumstances and the presence of
new people in the community have
created a need for review, he con-
tinued.

“While the record will clearly
demonstrate that the proeyss com-
plied with all legal regtire-
metts.,.because of its strat...
location, it should have been :ub-
jected to a much wider proces; of
public discussion prior to the pro-
posal call in 1987,’’ said Lanskail.

The mayor called for a process
of community-wide consultation
and objective discussion concern-
ing three matters: 1) the process
involving negotiation and approval
of the lease of the land, 2) the ap-
propriateness of the zoning and
permitted land uses provided in the
development guidelines and 3) the
proposed twin tower development.

While council now believes that
more could have been done to
communicate information about
the development, Lanskail em-
phasized that there had been no
deliberate attempt to mislead or
deceive.

As for the appropriateness of
the current zoning of the property,
Lanskail repeated the development
guidelines adopted in 1981, follow-
ing a period of public discussion.
These included a parklike gateway,
enhancement of the river walkway
and extensive building setbacks,
building density in keeping with
the apartment zone, amenities for
public enjoyment of the site and
access designed to minimize traffic
impact.

“Part of the rationale for
development being proposed was
the financial implications of leas-
ing this site and consequent
benefits in terms of taxation and
financing other community pro-
jects and/or acquisitions,’’ Lan-
skail recalled.

Discussion regarding the twin
towers will cover design detail,
traffic concerns and other relevant
considerations.

A Citizen Task Force will be

Fea Msn i ses at

By MAUREEN CURTIS

Contributing Writer

appointed by council to determine
the relevant facts concerning the
issue and report their findings and
recommendations to council and
the public. Suggestions as to the
composition of the task force
would be welcome prior to noon,
July 25.

Lanskail also announced that a
report on the lease agreement and
development proposal would be
circulated to all households and
businesses. There will be opportu-
nity for input from ratepayers
groups, business organizations and
other interested parties.

WEST Van Mayor Don Laaskail

A public hearing will be conven-
ed prior to the end of September in
the West Vancouver Secondary
School auditorium to provide op-
portunity for public discussion.

Council was supportive of Lan-
skail’s statement.

“We're here to refleci the public
will and seek the public benefit and
we will ensure that we have a
public consensus before we do
anything,” assured Ald. Rod Day.

“Public scrutiny should and
must be welcome,’’ added Ald.
Alex Brokenshire.

Council was congratulated on its
move by local resident Tom Reid.

“You have guided council
well,’ Reid told Lanskail.

“‘T have always been a believer in
the principle that when you have
made a mistake the best thing to
do is frankly admit it, and get on
with the job of correction,’’ said
Lanskail.

Ca HERRON So aS pire n ow ee aaa

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