& — Wednesday, October 15, 1997 — North Shore News

Dear Editor:

As a resident of West Vancouver, one cannot hel being amused, frustrated, befuddled, confused, angry and downright cynical over the controversy that pervades the discussions surrounding the expansion at Park Royal.

Some, just plainly have no idea what is going on; some don’t understand what the fuss is all about; some are just beginning to understand how it might affect them and then there are those who have fig- ured it out, seen through the deception and now are angry at the thought of being taken for fools.

: The one thing that is clear,

_is that the public is now begin- ning to. awaken and under- stand the ramifications of the

_’ proposed development and is responding at an exponential

‘rate in- their reaction by involvement in the campaign against: Big Box stores in Park

“Royal. Larco’s attempt to pre- . sent the proposal to council in

». the middle of: the summer,

while’. everyone was on holi- _- days was the first clue.

The facts are relatively sim- ple: The infrastructure. of roads in. and around Park

evacuate injure

Royal and especially in_con- nection with access to Lions Gate Bridge, are incapable of handling the projected traffic increases that are associated with one big box store like Home Depot, let alone the additional 150,000 = to 250,000 sq. ft. of retail space that is planned.

No computerized traffic light system or interplanetary overpasses will erase the sheer numbers of vehicles that already ply this route daily. Check it out for yourself; try turning south off Clyde mid- day and then i imagine an addi- tional 100 cars and 10 com- mercial semi-trailers per hour hurtling down Taylor Way to bring merchandise and sup- plies to those stores.

As one of the West Van firefighters reminded us not

- only is St. Anthony’s school

half block away off Taylor Way, the next commercial tuck accident with the steep grades involved is a sure bet on Taylor Way. We are also rerninded by our. emergency services that Taylor Way and Marine Drive are Emergency. Response cor- ridors. At the urgency they are required to respond to. and persons to

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hospital, the arteries are already impassibic. Imagine what this expansion would mean to response times and accessibility. Good luck if you live near the mall.

And for those of you who live near or off 13th, 15th sand 21st or the nearby side streets, don’t be surprised that as the traffic backs up on Taylor Way the motorists will figure out the shortcuts to the mall through your backyard.

As — for those of you who are proponents of progress and endorse the posi- tive changes that Larco has brought to Park Royal: Yes, the first three phases are esthetically, 2 quantum improvement but now they want and need a return on their investment. It’s entirely possibie that the mall could be sold again whether they pro- ceed with this expansion or

“Try turning south off Civde midday and then imagine an additional 100 cars and 10 commercial semi-trailers per hour hurtling down Taylor Way.”

nor. This is strictly a financial issue for Larco versus the com- mon sens¢ interests of the res- idents of West Vancouver and those that use the arteries and facilities thar surround Park Royal. This is not a “NIMBY” issue.

There = are even more critical issues that relate to the commu- nity, the merchants, the —recre- ation _facili- ties and what the residents would really like to see in a further expansion, but some- how it’s hard to get seri- ous with someone that smiles and gives you figuratively a single digit response.

West Van council is not powerless, Why is Larco seek- ing approval from council if they don’t have jurisdiction over the federal Indian lands? Maybe, there is something that they really need?

The community is not powerless either; we can vote

plans can be changed

with our pocketbooks and make it clear to Larco that we don’t appreciate their arro- gence and insensitivity to our needs and concerns.

As a final note. consider this: where do you find else- where on this planet a retail establishment or facility that is located so uniquely “by the sea,” with the opportunity to creatively optimize the haryno-

ny between the environment, |

the community and the needs of the developer? Somehow, warchouse big box stores don’t seem to fit with the geography or the opportunity.

Free up to Larco: it’s not too late to rethink this deba- cle. With an attitude of gen- uine concern and interest for the. needs of the community through a public forum of input to further development at Park Royal you may be pleasantly surprised at the cooperation and support you get in the process an pethaps even in your existing of business.

It’s a creative and architec- tural opportunity that war- rants your reconsideration. It’s the legacy that we leave to our ‘children and the community. R. Allen West Vancouver

Right on refugees

Dear Editor:

Your column of Friday, Sept. 26, “Our Refugee Runaround,” hit the nail right on the

head. There is too much « | mollycoddling by. -|-

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and more particularly by the Immigration and Refugee Canada, when it comes

to’ undesirables and . known criminals of all

kinds from ether coun-~ tries who for some rea- © son or another seem to

be almost welcome in’

Canada. ; Cne day, will. the bureaucracy concerned

ing the banner once held high by your fornier cohort, Doug. Collins}

whom: many called an {©

old curmudgeon; but who showed no fear. nor =. favor of anyone. Keep up” the geod work...

R.W. Carlson

North Vancouver

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