The Lower Lonsdale Business Association is shelving plans to form a Business Improvement Area for LoLo - at least for now.
The association was in the process of getting City of North Vancouver council's approval to set up the BIA , which would have the power to levy all LoLo business owners 89 cents per $1,000 in assessed value and then spend it on LoLo events, marketing and beautification.
But, with a major report on the city's vision for the central waterfront due in early February, the association is taking a wait-and-see approach to how a BIA would fit into a revamped waterfront, according to Doug Ausman, business association president.
"We wouldn't want to be in a situation where we get a BIA started up and start to do some things that might contradict or not be in step with that kind of project," Ausman said. "Rather than ask the city to proceed with that bylaw now, let's wait and the LLBA will proceed in step with that big city project and when the timing seems appropriate and we've worked out a detailed implementation first-year plan that would complement that city project, then we'll be back to city council to ask them to give three readings to the bylaw."
Under the legislation to set up a BIA, a majority of commercial property owners must register their opposition with the city in order to stop the process. Council watcher Kerry Morris had spearheaded a campaign to get businesses to reject the BIA but that's not why the association is holding off, Ausman said.
"It's really upsetting - the thought that people are going to say that, and that opponents are going to say 'We won,'" Ausman said. "While it's annoying as hell and frustrating, we fully believe it would pass if the balloting went ahead.
"We're extending our work and we'll be back on the agenda at some point," Ausman added. "It could be as long as a year, but that's OK with us if it's done right."
Mayor Darrell Mussatto, who was in favour of LoLo having a BIA, said it will be up to LoLo business to decide the future of any potential BIA.
"Who knows what may happen with the business association. They may not want to carry on at all," he said. "These people trying to put it together are all volunteers. They came to us to do this. We're basically in their hands. If they don't want to do it, the city can't force a BIA or stop it. It's up to them."
As for the vision for the waterfront that has been compiled from input from more than 1,000 people, that will come before council on Feb. 3 and it's not to be missed, Mussatto said.
"I've seen some stuff and it's pretty exciting," he said.
