THE project won't be formally considered until early 2014, but debate over two West Vancouver skyscrapers slated for the White Spot site at 752 Marine Drive was already well underway at a council meeting Monday.
Council voted unanimously to open up a four-month public consultation phase on the project, which includes two towers measuring 24 and 19 storeys. The towers would add 289 units to the Village at Park Royal.
Nearly half the units would be one-bedroom apartments measuring between 507 and 690 square feet.
The project would also include a daycare and 6,210 square feet of commercial space.
The project's proximity to the intersection of Taylor Way and Marine Drive, which Coun. Bill Soprovich dubbed "ground zero" for gridlock in the district, should prompt an overarching plan to deal with West Vancouver traffic, he said.
"If there is ever a time for a master plan of movement and transportation and traffic in relation to all that's going to go on in this region, now's the time," Soprovich said, citing extensive projects planned by the City and District of North Vancouver.
The issue transcends borders, said Soprovich, who suggested asking the Squamish Nation to develop a four-lane bridge over the Capilano River.
"We've heard traffic as a number one concern," agreed Coun. Mary-Ann Booth. "If we weren't going ahead with this project, it wouldn't get any better. If we perhaps go ahead with the public consultation, we might have an opportunity to make some significant changes."
A few Taylor Way residents described being hemmed into their driveways by a sluggish, steady flow of traffic that stretches down their street between 3 and 7 p.m. Over the past 60 years, the district's population has tripled while the traffic system has stood stagnant, according to West Royal resident Barbara Brink, who also focused on Taylor Way and Marine Drive.
"The only time that junction functions properly is when the police are there for six weeks at Christmas," she said.
Tenants at West Royal face abysmal conditions, according to Coun. Craig Cameron.
"I don't know who designed the ingress and egress the way they did, but they shouldn't have jobs anymore," Cameron said.
The district has a need for diverse housing, according to Cameron.
"Unless you're advocating we erect a moat and a large fence around West Vancouver and have zero growth into the future, we have to find places to put people," he said. "If we don't put people here, where are we going to put them?" Cameron was one of several councillors who called for extensive public consultation.
"Full consultation should not be sacrificed in favour of fast consultation," he said.
Mayor Michael Smith reminded council that Park Royal's application was submitted in December 2012.
"I don't think, given the facts, anybody could accuse us of rushing," he said.
"The City of North Van, every time you go over there there's another highrise going up. The District of North Van is planning a town centre at Capilano and Marine. Squamish plans are out there in the public, and they have the right to develop their land. Those are the facts. There's no point in holding our breath until we turn purple 'cause we don't like it," he said.
While some speakers worried about dipping property values and the development's failure to mesh with the rest of the district, the project also found supporters.
"It seems to offer an awful lot that we have said in the community that we want," said Maggie Pappas, head of advocacy for the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, citing vibrancy, cycling lanes, and a daycare.
The project also found a fan in Kay Meek Centre executive director Claude Giroux.
"The fact that art is a part of their vision speaks to the care they've taken so far. Obviously, I'm biased," he added.
The site's current zoning allows for 18,000 square feet of retail development. The tower project would consist of approximately 302,000 square feet of development. The floor space ratio, which measures floor space against the size of the lot, would be 2.98.
