2 — Friday. September 17, 1999 - North Shore News

Lynn Val

ley residents

irked by new sche

Marcie Good Contributing Writer

BACK to classes has been a headache for residents of a Lynn Valley neighbourhood that didn’t expect to have a school in their midst.

Thirty-five students in Grades 4 ta Sat Lions Gate Christian Academy began anending classes at) Mount Olivet: Lutheran Church on “Vuesday.

Neighbours of the church, athe corner of Mountain Highway and }Sth Street, are upset that they only found out about the school in July and never had a chance to voice concems about noise, trafic, safety and property values.

“We are concerned about the placement of a private school in an inappropriate loca- tion,” said Mike McKenzie, who represented area residents at district council on Sept. 7. “We consider this to have been done without due considera- tion.”

The church's property is zoned as public assembly, a des- ignation that also allows for the operation of a school. A maxi- mum of three classrooms are permitted on the property, but the bylaw doesn’t limit the number of students in a <lass- room,

Area residents presented a 78-name petition to council outlining their objections to the school.

Trattic is already heavy in

the area, because parents of

students at nearby Eastview elementary school drop off and pick up their children along Meuntain Highway. Another school operating in the area, neighbours say, will only increase the danger.

“The problem is, you drive dowa 17th or 18th and some kid bolts across the road. ta chase a ball,” said: McKenzie. “People arer’t used to it, and we hit them and we have to live with it.”

Others talked = about “fifestyle changes” brought on by having to share a backyard border with a school, and deal- ing with the noise of children playing outside.

Elizabeth Baggoo, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 35 years, told council that she didn’t want students taking over nearby parks during recess or lunch periods. But her biggest concern is that current zoning, regulations could allow any church to open a school.

“This could happen in neighbourhood after neigh- bourhood,” she said.

But Richard Vanderkooy, a member of the academy’s board of directors, said he hopes the school will add to the area rather than disturb it.

“We understand as a school that residents are concerned because it’s something new,” he said.

Academy _ representatives held a public meeting in August to talk to neighbours about their concerns.

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Among the measures taken by the school to alleviate those concerns is a traffic plan, which was approved by district staff, for parents driving children to school. Because there are only about 20 cars arriving, at the school cach day, Vanderkooy said he docsn’t think that Lions Gate Christian Academy will exacerbate the problem. The academy's starting, time is also 20 minutes before Eastview’s, which will stagger the traffic arriving in the area.

The school’s current agree: ment with the church is for one year; Vanderkooy expects this to be a temporary arranye- ment. The school, which began operating in September 1994, has grown significantly each year to a total of 104 students. Its other location at North Shore Alliance Church, at 20] East 23rd) St. in) North Vancouver, now houses kinder- garten to Grade 3 students.

“Our goal is not to be there for long,” he said,

Correction

THE owners of nscu.com do not own the intecnet address Pizza 222.com, as reported in a Sept. 10 News story.

The Pizza 222 web domain is registered to a Vancouver company called iekeo Franchise Management Lid.

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17

The Architecture of Ren Thom:

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7:30pm * North Vancouver Municipal Halt 355 Queens Rd, North Vancouver

SATURDAY SEPTSMBER 13 Indian Aim Guided Boat Tour Departs Noon + Walerfront Park «35/person

Tickets avai ‘lable a at 55 Queens Rad. 990-2369

Memeries of Deep Cove

1-4pm al the Deep Cove Cultural Centre, 4360 Gailani Ave, Admission by donation.

Heritage Homes of the Craftsmen 1:30 nn Meet at North Van Municipal Hail, 355 Queens Rd, Call 986-8969 to pre-register.

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Lighthouse Park Nature Walking Tour 10am « Meet at the Phil Mundy Hut + Please pre-register by calling 925-7295

Point Aikinson Lighthouse Tour 10am + Meet at the gate to the lighthause compound « Pre-register by cailing 923-7295

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10am to 4pm « lynn Headwaters Regional Park Pre-register for guided hikes at 9am at the BC Mills house. Call 224-5739 for more tnformation.

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