NEWS photo Paul MeGrath

PROPOSED redevelopment of industrial land surrounding Canadian Occidental’s Maplewood chlorine plant drew a huge crowd to North Vancouver District Hali Tuesday. The hearing was adjourned Wednesday for more public input.

lie density debate deferred

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Despite the length of some of the presenta- tions, the hearing was unusually quiet as the -packed gallery concentrated on the interwoven issues of planning process, density, land use, safety and cost. _Can Oxy first applied to rezone in 1993. Tn 1995, dezaits of a cost-sharing agree- ment between the district and CanOxy were ‘made public in which cach side had pledged $3.75 million towards the costs of the infra- structure involved in the potential develop- ment; inchiding realigning the Dollarton Highway. (That figure did not include rebuild- - ing the Dollarton: Bridge to ovo lanes in each direction at a projected cust of $6 million.) The satety issue of increased density adja- «.- tent to a chlorine plant saw council members --adjourn a June 1996 public hearing to better

educate themselves and the public about risk assessment.

Council appointed its own consultant to review CanOxy’s risk assessment study and over a year was speny re-evaluating the site's risk management.

The elimination of a barged chlorine stor- age tank, the reduction of on-site chlorine storage to one 300-tonne cank and other sate- ty measures led to an adjustment of the risk contours drawn around the site and the poten- tial higher public use.

Nevertheless, some menvbers of the public were surprised when a new rezoning applica- tion came forward earlier this month that cre- ated development zones allowing uses previ- ously forbidden “until such time as the plant is permanently closed.”

CanOxy withdrew one development area from the current rezoning application in

response ter requests trom Maplewood resi- dents to add a residential component to the plans.

But plans for the so-called CD19 zone include restavrants, offices, fitness centres, restauranis wd retail food services.

CanOxy spokesmai, Jane Fleming said the company had no specific plans for the look of the developments that would take place on its land, a process she said would take five to seven years tc: build our, but guaranteed there would be no Sig Box retail outlets on the site.

Fleming t icl the News on Thursday the six-year proces+ has been costly for the compa- ny “net only is: dollars but in terms of human resources.”

Of the new Jelay and the planned public meetings she said, “We want to work with the community and listen to their concerns and see if we can work out something.”

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NEWS graphic

A rerouted highway and four develop- ment zones are proposed by CanOxy.

issue elicits pros and cons

On the need to move the traffic on the Dollarton Highway out of Maplewood: “The risk of a child getting killed on the Dollarton Highway is much higher than anv- one getting killed by chlorine.” — John Walkicy

“Council's job is to make sure that the risks of a chlorine exposure in the Maplewood com- munity is zero.” — Ros Muirhead

On the public involvement in the safety review.

“awe are entering the court of public opin- ion only at the end of the process, virtually climinating the opportunity to nave all public concerns addressed by the mnsk assessment process and running the risk of creating unnec- essary suspicion on behalf of the public who have not had an opportunity to be a part of the overall process.” — Ross Peterson, co-ordinator North & West Vancouver Emergency Program

On public involvement in the planning process.

“If we say chat we are committed to com- munity consultation and participation in the decisions which shape our municipality, then we can’t pick and choose which issues we will involve the community in. We have to take the time to make that happen consistently. Otherwise there will be no public faith in process.” — Angela Trudeau, co-cinirman, Blueridge Community Association

On the possibility of using the Heritage Fund to pay for a new Dollarton bridge. “Heritage means for our children, it is not meant to be overdraft protection for our chequing account.” — Angela Tradean

Walk in the park for MS

NEWS phote Pau: McGrath

WENDY Sherman (left) and her aunt Sheila Haggerty will take part in an MS waik on Sunday _at Ambleside. Haggerty'’s daughter, Rachel, (in photo right) died of MS in December.

Fundraiser set for Sunday in W. Van

Anna Marie 0’Angelo News Reporter dangclo@nsnews.cont

SHEILA Haggerty will be think- ing about her daughter on Sunday when she takes part in a multiple sclerosis fundraiser walk at Ambleside Park.

Haggerty’s daughter, Rachel Sandiford, died ast Dec. 30 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.

Sandiford was 31 when she diced.

“1 would like the public more aware that this is a very common disease in Canada and it affects the young,” said Haggerty.

Haggerty is taking part in the Super Cities Walk and Run for Multiple Sclerosis. The North Shore component of the two- hour multiple scierosis (MS) fundraiser, sponsored by the North Shore News, begins at 8 a.m. at Ambleside Park.

Haggerty said her daughter was in excellent health when diagnosed with MS at age 18, about tive months after graduat- ing front Carson Graham secondary.

MS is a neurological disease whose cause is unknown. In MS, the myeiin (or insulator) around nerves degenerates. ‘fhe myelin breakdown has been compared ta an electrical cord whose insolation has become frayed and the electricity (nerve impulses) can’t get through.

Haggerty said. statisties. show Canada has the highest number cf people with MS than any other country in the world.

The disease is nor easily diagnosed -

because of many different and subtle carly symptoms.

“My daughter was very athletic. She skied and lived in Whistler and did every- thing: mountain biking, kayaking and deep-sea diving,” said Haggerty.

She said her daughter had a good 25 years before the MS progressed to the point where she could not waik tH 1992,

Sandiford was bern in England and came to Canada when she was seven. She attended Carisbrooke, Balmoral, Carson Graham schools and Capilano college.

For about a year betore the teenager was diagnosed with MS, she had symptoms such as tingling in her feet.

Haggerty said the MS progressed so that her daughter, an only child, could not speak, had difficulty swallowing and was confined to her bed.

“She was still pertectly with it mentally. That's the sad thing. She was still very bright,” said Haggerty.

Haggerty stopped work to take care of her daughter in their North Vancouver home because there was no place on the North Shore to care, for a young person with an illness such as advanced MS.

“There is a for that still needs to be improved upon for young people with MS,” said Haggerty.

Everyune is welcome to take part in the MS fundraiser walk and run.

Anyone wishing to donate may mail a cheque payable to the MS Society at. suite 1600, 1130 West Pender, Vancouver VOE 4A4.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIM

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