8% - Sunday, March 18, 1990 - North Shore News Reducing mid-block densities discussed in City CHANGES TO mid-block den- sities and the new city transporta- tion network will be discussed at upcoming public policy meetings in North Vancouver City. By CORINNE BJORGE According to a report by city assistant director of planning Richard White, council identified the issue of mid-block densities as a neighborhood preservation issue last year. “‘Two rezoning applications are being withheld pending the resolu- tion of the mid-block designation review,"’ White said in his report. “Staff have advised other potential applicants not to submit proposals until council’s policy review is completed.”’ And it is likely that parts of the study area, which runs along the western half of the blocks between St. Andrew’s and Ridgeway avenues from Keith Road to 15th Street, will have their density al- fowances reduced. City development services direc- Fuel cell firm strikes two international deals BALLARD POWER Systems (BPS), a North Vancouver-based world leader in the development of non-polluting fuel ceil technology, has signed agreements with two major international firms interest- ed in using the cells to power their products. By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporier The Ballard solid polymer fuel cell extracts hydrogen from liquid methanol and converts chemical energy from hydrogen directly to electrical power without an inter- mediate thermal or mechanical process. The cell's byproducts are elec- tricity and water. BPS has negotiated a 10-year agreement with Vickers Ship- building and Engineering Ltd, a U.K. manufacturer of submarines. Said Ballard president Firoz Rasul, ‘‘Vickers’ primary business is building submarines. But they’re also looking at other applications, both defence and commercial ap- plications. Unfortunately our agreement with them prevents me from divulging the applications because they don’t want to give anything away to their com- petitors.” BPS will initially deliver two cells to Vickers. The cell techno- logy will be tested in the Vickers 2495 submarine. - The local high-tech company has also contracted with a ‘‘major Japanese automotive manufactur- er.” Rasul declined to name the company, but said BPS anticipates an ongoing relationship with the firm. The company will begin with one cell, with an eye to testing the motive power source in everything from golf carts to cars. “That one (agreement ) will evolve over time because they have so many different applications. We’re going to have to strike dif- ferent deals for different parts of the business,’’ Rasul said. BPS expects to announce the signing of at least four more major commercial agreements over the balance of the year. Said Rasul, ‘‘We're getting out of the research phase and we're getting into the pre-production phase. The production work will happen right here in North Van- couver.”’ BPS produces fuel-cell power generators and ‘ithium § sulphur- dioxide batteries for military and commercial clients around the world. i LIMITED TIME ONLY Towards completely repainting your car with our ‘Supreme’ paint service. *Excludes glass claims HOURS Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm Saturday 10am-2pm 945 West tst St. North Vancouver (next to Beaver Lumber) 11 tor Fred Smith referred to a recent council decision against combining the range of mid-block densities to allow development to between eight to 16 units per acre. Instead, said Smith, council in- dicated a preference for the den- sities to be ‘tmoved back to the lowest OCP (Official Community Plan) designation.” “(it) envisages a redistribution in the OCP back to single family," said Smith. According to the report, down- designating the density ranges wilt have both positive and negative ef- fects. “The positive feature of this op- tion is that all of the single-family lots currently available within the area will be retained,’’ said White in his report. ‘*Negative features inctude rendering some properties legally non-conforming, ignoring existing zoning cliffs and reducing redevelopment potential in the area,’’ said the report. Ald. Frank Morris said the study area would not be the only area whose mid-block densities would be examined by the city. He added that the city would probably be considering the area west of Lons- dale after the first mid-block con- siderations were completed. {In addition to mid-block den- sities, the city will also be examin- ing the recently-released transpor- tation network study and asking for public input. A report », deputy city engineer Don Bridgman outlined some of the report's strategies: ‘‘(The report attempts) a shift away from the ‘single occupant car’? and also aims to establish ‘ta more convenient transit service — re- quiring fewer transfers and im- proved frequency of services.”” . The report also stated that con- sideration was given to the requests of the Courthouse Area Residents’ Association who have been lobby- ing council to reduce traffic along their street. THE FIRST TIME EVER! WE'RE HAVING A HUGE Sofas—regular $2999 95 to $6999.95 Sale price $899 95 to $3499.95 3 PIECE LEATHER SECTIONALS Regular $9999.95 Sale price $4599.95 FABRIC SECTIONALS 3 large 9 ft. x12 ft.—2 in solid pearl colour. 1 in multi navy stripe Regular $7500.00 to $10000.00 Sale price $3750.00 to $4999.95 PLEASE NOTE: Our business year ends March 30th. Our new policy is not tocarry over any fashion fabrics from the current year. 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