Sunday, August 16, 1992 - North Shore News - 24 HIGH PROFILES better Simple is Busy North Van. engineer chairs district’s advisory planning commission FRANK BELFRY’S small ‘corner office is awash in a sea of paper. He bas plans everywhere. Blueprints occupy most of his of- fice, His office walls, for the most part, are bare. The only noticeable item is a simple wall calendar. AEE EE A oo @ NAME: Frank Beifry @. AGE: 43 : @ OCCUPATION: Chairmen, _ North Vancouver District Adviso- . vy. Planning Commission; - part owner Kerr Wood. Leidal Associates Ltd. engineering firm - . ‘@ RESIDENCE: North Yan- couver District =. : + @ BORN: Ontario @ FAMILY: Wife Cathy, - childrea ..- a EDUCATION: ‘Bachelor of Applied “Science degree in civil : engineering trom Queens Univer- glty two This is the office of a man who is part ‘owner of North Van- couver-based’' Kerr. Wood Leidal .. Associates Ltd., one.of the most -sought-after consulting engineer- ing firms i in B.C.:. This is also’ the. office’ of the chairman... of. North: Vancouver ” District's advisory planning com- smaission.” ‘For Belfry, simple i is Better. : Outside his office is the ‘‘pit.”’ More plans. More blueprints. This . is where the firm’s 16 engineers are’ hard at. work designing a variety of projects. Belfry has worked on a’ wide range of: projects. He does con- sulting work for several native ‘In- dian: bands in 3.C., helping them — “plan: their..waste water and. com- : munity planning systems. - He has‘ been heavily involved " with: the: Whistler Village expan- sion.. © involved. with’ was.in the east . Kootenays”.in. the ‘district of Elkford. It: was a doubling of the community’ infrastructure during ‘an increase in population during ' the early 1980s when there was a ” great expansion in the coal in- dustry in. the southeastern part of * the province. “We were involved in that - community for. many years, ex- . -panding all of. the: municipal in- ” * . frastructure. F'lived in the com- ‘munity for four years. My wife . ‘and I really enjoyed it.” Belfry lives:in the Seymour area ‘of North Vancouver District. When he noticed ‘several changes taking place in the area, he decid- ed to get involved with the district - council. At the time, he says, the council was looking for volunteers for its advisory planning commission. He put his name forward and is now the. chairman of the 10-member commission. Belfry smiles when asked if the council follows the advice of the “The biggest one (project) 1 was” By Surj Rattan News Reporter advisory planning commission. “Yes and no. We give a layman’s comment on land-use issues. We’re not a group that’s lobbied by anyone. We just give our opinion to council, and they consider that in their .delibera- tions,”’ Beifry says. He adds that the proposed Northlands golf course in- the Seymour area has been one of the most controversial issues his committee has had to deal with: And he says the controversy on the subject is only now beyinning. The advisory planning commis- sion supports the golf course. “I'll (Northlands) go through . several public information pro- cesses. If the golf course plan. is accepted, then it has te go through the rezoning of the of- ficial community plan amend- ment, which will take it through another round of public hearings. “Then it will go back to the advisory planning commission and various committees. If the golf course plan isn’t accepted by council, then it’s back to the drawing board, and that will in- volve another round of public hearings.”” . Another major issue facing the advisory planning commission, FRANK BELFRY is also chair- man of the North Vancouver District Advisory Planning Commission. : ‘says Belfry, is finding new devel- opments for housing. - Development space, he says, is. now at a minimum in the district. “It’s difficult finding the land available in the district for these needed projects. The only avail- ~ . able land out there is in the east- em part of tie district, yet they should be spread throughout the district so that people don’t have to congregate all in one area.”’ ” meet: “NEWS photee Neit Lucente FRANK BELFRY and senior technician Ken Neveroski go over plans for the expansion of Whistler : ’ Village. What are your responsibilities as chairman of the district’s advisory Planning commission?: ‘It’s a commission of 10 people ap- pointed by the council. We pro- vide comment to council on land-use and planning matters. “The items that are sent to us by council include the. official community plan, zoning changes, development permits. We give our opinion to council on these mat- ters. “Those opinions form part of council’s deliberations. when there are public hearings.’’ What do you enjoy. most about. being an engineer?: ‘‘I think the work is challenging. We’re always | improving things, doing - things better and improving old facilities . that. need upgrading. That’s one aspect of it. “The other is all the people I throughout the province because we work ali over the pro- vince.” Why did you decide to get into this line of work?: ‘“‘It’s always interested me. I went through ’ engineering at university and then I worked in Ontario in the same field and then moved to B.C. “Yve always found it interest- ing. ” What would an average day be like for you?: ‘Living and work- ing on the North Shore is a pleasure; not having -across any bridges. “7 usually leave for work at Professional Pet Grooming at its best, with kindiness you and your pet will appreciate - New owner Judy Scottand Master Groomer Robert Stratten welcomes former clients to visit them at Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8am-6pm # 240-1425 Marine Drive, West Vancouver 926-1915 to drive © 7:45 a.m. and I'm home about 6. p.m. and I end up working at home for an hour or so about two nights a week. “I’m out cf town from a min- imum of four days to a maximum of 10 days a month, travelling up to the Whistler and Pemberton area, to Vancouver Island and . Frank Belfry - In his wana other parts of the province.” , What do you like to do to relax when you’ re not working?: “J like to ski in the wintertime and 1 also. go cycling. Sailing is my great feve but_ 1: don’t, have: much, time: for that right Row."”" SHOP THE FLYERS > wednesday - Woolco Lenscrafters » friday Watch for our Real Estate Homes Section * Real Estate Weekly * Safeway " Save-On-Foods Safeway > sunday * Super Valu * Pharmasave _— Shoppers Drug Mart * Sears The Bay * Canadian Superstore If you miss any of these flyers call North Shore News Distribution 986-1337 * delivered to selected areas only