A delegation of concerned Moodyville citizens called on council to increase density as a means of re-drawing the neighbourhood in the wake of the Low Level Road project.
On May 26, the City of North Vancouver's council chambers were packed with about 50 Moodyville residents interested in the presentation made by their neighbours Michael Binkley, Michelle Binkley and Mike Wise. The trio were asking for a better-designed Low
Level Road, include more density in the new official community plan and a green buffer to the upgraded road.
"During the past year, we have witnessed an unprecedented growth in the port, which will continue through to 2015," said Michael Binkley. "For decades, our neighbourhood has had a wide buffer of approximately two acres of heavily treed park. That was removed for the new Lower Level Road. Now there is only a 15-foot-wide Spirit Trail as a separation from our neighbourhood and the port.
"There is a way to restore this green space and make it a destination, not just a buffer."
The delegation, comprising about 60 properties in the 500-and 600-blocks of East First and Second streets on the east side of St. Davids Avenue, advocated for higher density than proposed by staff as the best option for the Moodyville community.
Wise said this level of higher density would allow for about 3.5 acres of green space between the residential area and road - 1.5 acres more than what was taken to make way for the Lower Level Road project.
As one example, the group proposed plans for more density by removing 18 townhouse units and replacing them with fivestorey apartment-style buildings.
"Not only does it accommodate for townhouses, stacked townhomes. .. it also allows for smaller dwellings such as lockoff suites and rental apartments to provide housing for a wide range of new residents," Wise added.
Mayor Darrell Mussatto and councillors stressed that while they could not give any compensation to the residents for losses incurred by the Port Metro Vancouver construction, they were open to ideas.
Mussatto said he supported higher density for Moodyville, partially due to enhanced transit planned for nearby Third Street. The Spirit Trail's path through Moodyville Park and the new central waterfront were also factors for the mayor.
Michelle Binkley said there are about seven groups in total from the Moodyville area that have their own ideas about how to shape the neighbourhood, but are either in the planning stages or getting ready to speak to council in the near future, as well.
The city is aiming to hold public hearings regarding the OCP in September, which is three years after the CityShaping process was first struck.
