RANDY STOLTMANN points out this natural history display which was recently {| Park. The 525-ycar-old Douglas fir cutting tells the tales of years past with the variations in its ring patterns, | stn Av f ‘f ha: NEWS photo Mike Wakefield | erected in Lighthouse Stoltmann initiated the project, which was supported by the District of West Vancouver and the Canadian Society for Protection of Heritage Forests. The round ef wood was taken from a dead tree found fallen in ‘the Caulfeild aren. . ; wi PARKING PROBLEMS | Legion expansion stalied HURDLES remain to be cleared before the long-awaited and controversial West becomes a reality. The expansion’s delay continues despite findings that the legion is not the principal cause of parking and traffic problems on [8th Street and “Duchess and Esquimalt avenues. West Vancouver District Council approved Monday night the zoning bylaw necessary for the expansion, but ‘deferred approval of a development variance permit pen- ding an agreement with the legion on. expansion or use limitations and off-site parking arrangements. Construction of the 1,500- square-foot expansion cannot pro- ceed’ until the agreements have been considered by council. The proposed construction, which would provide legionnaires with a quiet room and a larger meeting area, brought howls of protest from area: residents con- cerned that the expansion would increase area parking and traffic problems. ‘The neighborhood has become. a giant parking lot for others and Vancouver Legion expansion By MAUREEN CURTIS Contributing Writer their constant comings and goings not only disturb its tranquillity but endanger our children,’’ submitted Paul Cote and Monika Haupt- meier. 4 Legion members and other sup- porters of the expansion argued that such problems could not all be laid on their doorstep, because many members get rides or walk to legion functions. Parking and traffic is often just as bad before 11:30 a.m., when the legion opens, expansion supporters pointed out. They attributed parking pro- blems on 18th Street and Duchess and Esquimalt avenues to shoppers and employees, as well as bus commuters. ‘‘The congestion in the lane is not caused by legion members, but by people using the lane as a thor- oughfare,’’ said Duchess Avenue resident H.G. Travis. ; Dennis Young suggested that locals had created their own ‘‘bot- tleneck situation,’ by encroaching on the right-of-ways with lawns, rockeries, hedges and walkways. After reviewing the staff report, council members also concluded that the parking and traffic pro- blem is caused by conditions in the area, and not by the legion alone. ‘*t do not believe that an expan- sion would substantially impact in that area. The impact is there already,”’ said Ald, Alex Broken- shire, who is a Second World War air force veteran, but not a member of the legion. Aldermen Mark Sager, Pat Boname and Rod Day agreed, but said the parking congestion in the area should be investigated. “Parking restrictions (allowing only local residents) would be a fair request,’’ added Sager. Sager was successful in passing a motion to have representatives from the legion and the neighborhood meet with municipal staff to come up with recommen- dations for a parking scheme lor the area. The legion plans to create sever- al additional on-site parking spots in conjunction with their expan- sion project. 3+ Sunday. February 21, 1988 North Shore News LIONS GATE UNSAFE AND UGLY, COMMITTEE SAYS THE ENTRANCE to the North Shore via Lions Gate Bridge is ugly and unsafe. Contributing Writer That was the message presented Monday night to West Vancouver District and North Vaneouver District. councils by Lions Gate North Co-ordinating Committee chairman Joseph Cantafio. Both councils subsequently promised $4,500 grants for the Lions Gate North project to im- prove the entryway at the north end of Lions Gate Bridge, which includes the’ cloverleaf .that directs traffic to the three North Siiore municipalities, and both districts will join three other official bodies to develop a plan to change the face of Lions Gate North. The matter is scheduled to come before North Vancouver City Council tomorrow night. In a 9%-minute promotional video presented to bath councils by Cantafio, the bridge's north end was depicted as treacherous for pedestrians who walk between North and West Vancouver and neglected because the bodies responsible for the area have not cooperated with each other to im- prove the area. Lions Gate North is a no-man’s jand in terms of those responsible for the area, councils were told. improvements suggested by the committee include landscaping by using a focal point of visual inter- est in the centre of the Cloverleaf, building and improving overpasses and erecting landmarks to improve the area’s visual quality. Cooperation between all three North Shore municipalities, the provincial highways department and the Squamish Indian Band was also considered by the committee as being vital to the success of the area's improvement plan. Pedestrian and cyclist safety, according to the presentation, is constantly threatened because a dearth of area sidewalks means Les Bewley...........14 Business ....:........91 Classified Ads. oe AT Doug Collins....... Comics............ Editorial Page...... Fashion.............. 47 Bob Hunter........... 4 Lifestyles.............41 Mailbox...............7 Sports ............... 28 TV Listings...........46 Travel ............... 34 What's Going On.......36 people must cither use the bridge or try to cross the busy roads. “tf you want to multiply the danger, just add rain,’' said West Vancouver Ald. Pat Boname, who sat on the committec. West Vancouver has already contributed $2,500, which went towards the video, which was pro- duced to alert North Shore resi- dents to the problem. An additional $16,000 will be used to hire a professional consul- tamt to design improvements and provide cost estimates. West Vancouver Ald. Mark Sager wanted to make West Van's contribution contingent. on con- ao nea ‘Sa, 7 WEST Vancouver Pat Boname...°If you want te multip- ly the danger, just add rain."' tributions from the two other municipalities, as well as the Squamish Indian Band and the department of highways, who also have jurisdiction over the Lions Gate North area. But Boname said that she would rather West Vancouver District allot the money regardless, so that the project would be trimmed down in case some of the other in- terested” parties chose not ta par- ticipate. Ald. Gordon Rowntree, who said he would have preferred to consider the matter along with other grant requests, wanted to know more about what future funding requirements might be. Cloudy on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday, cloudy with showers. Highs near 9°C.