- SUNDAY
-December 10, 1995

ROYAL

64 [ don’t think
~. people utider-
stand how big

this is. BF

-—— Marleen Morris, B.C.

Winter Games director of

-. promotions. Thousands of

. participants are to converge

“on North Shore in February
; of next year. See page 17.

= Christmas calendar.5?
a Christmas contest...50

. r N.. Shore Alert eon B
a a Talking Porsonals...47

“| Ski hills court
1 snowboarders:

a Yolieyball Royals,
Seyhawks fourth:

events
| Bright Lights covers
‘News’ Xmas party: 23

BI Frank Mills set to’
play Centennial: 42

Ave Low Interest Rates -
Getting } You Doum?

Catt us at .
1929: 9210

; W, ust Vancouver office
TY BL UE c tp THINKING 1 wa fraalerath of

MIDLAND
WALWYN

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_ urban reserve to

"NEWS photo Terry Poters
RANGER AVENUE resident Janette oO’ Flaherty has spoken out to try to prevent flood- .

ing, which recently wiped out a portion of her retaining wall in North Vancouver.

AN ARM of the Ministry of
Environment, Lands and Parks is
supporting a bid to overturn bylaws
that recently ‘created parkland in
North Vancouver. District.

By lan Noble
News Reporter

A locul MLA is distancing himself from
the work of his government's bureaucrats.

In a petition filed at the B.C. Supreme
Court Registry on Nov. 22, the Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMIIC)
challenged bylaws adopted... hy North
Vancouver District.

“The bylaws, popular with many Seyniour
area residents, rezoned the Mountiin Forest
Parks, Reereation and. Open
Space.

B.C. Lands has 25%

interest in Crown
corp.'’s Seymour land

. The move effectively kills CMHC’s plan to
develop 40. hectares (100 acres) of its 206
hectares (510 acres).

The province is a 25% partner with CMHC
in any potential development in the area,

The CMHC dealt with B.C. Lands, part of
the sume ministry Chat announced a Lower
Maintand Nature Legacy in, April chat
includes an Iedian Arm park more than 20
times the size of Stanley Park.

Don van der Horst, BoC. Lands manager of
development and marketing. for the Lower
Mainland region, said his . department

‘ceviewed and supported CMUHC’s legal chial-,

lenge.

Monday: Periods of rain
High 10°C, low 3°C.

NV District faces
residents’ wrath

A LAWYER expects flooded
Ranger Avenue residents to launch’
a lawsuit.

By lan Noble
News Reporter

. Lawyer Jonathan Baker said he antici-
pates the initial defendant in the action to
be North Vancouver District “based on
what we know to date?” but others may be
involved as well. . ;

Meanwhile, residents believe culverts
that became blocked, leading to the floods
are Inadequate. Many residents want cul-
verts removed and a bridge built. ;

Residents were the victims of wide-
spread flooding that piled rocks, tree parts,
and mud in back yards and basements on:

_ Nov, 23.

Baker said the law makes the amunici- |
pality virtually an insurer in damages
caused by the failure of its systems when
failures could have been theoretically pre-
vented.

Baker said the municipality may be«
liable on three ground.

Bi the municipality did not install flood-

See Money page 3

He said both CMHC. a federal Crown cor-
poration, and the provincial) government
would lose millions if planned’ developments
were killed by the rezoning.

Van der Lorst said the partnership's plans
would preserve approximately’ 160 hectares
(400 acres) of its Mountain Forest land as
park.

Van der Horst said the district’ bylaws
adopted Oct. 23 were enacted without consul-
tation or consideration of financial impacts.

Saying Victoria has made great strides in
providing parkland, he added B.C. Lands
arist also make land available for housing,
industry and commerce.

“We have to meet those needs when there
is a dennand. he said.

NDP North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA
David Schreck said in the absence of other
information, “Mm demanding we assist the
district in keeping that lind as parkiand.”