Dear Editor,
I would like to speak through you to the residents of the City of North Vancouver.
I am a member of the advocacy group North Van City Voices and on April 30 I attended the second and last Town Hall Meeting convened by the city to receive input from the residents regarding the proposed rezoning of the Harbourside property south of the Northshore Automall.
The basic proposal is to construct a wall of towers on the undeveloped waterfront lots - some of the towers being as high as 90 feet - with a total of 800 residential units. The residential zoning that is being requested is in addition to the unused commercial/light industrial space that the developers will still be able to sell.
After listening to various speakers representing the developers and city staff, it became obvious that the residents in attendance were becoming angry and frustrated.
One resident after another spoke about the existing traffic and parking problems at Harbourside and in the surrounding traffic corridors. They pointed out these frustrating conditions exist even before the nearby developments that are under construction or that are awaiting construction are occupied.
For example, 375 residential units will soon be constructed in the old city works yards on Mosquito Creek south of Marine Drive, which will see an estimated additional 750 adults and 750 cars added to that area.
It became clear that the consensus among those in attendance was adamantly against the Harbourside rezoning. A number of speakers pleaded with members of city council to listen to the concerns of the residents. Many suggested that the property was far more suited to be developed as a waterfront park for the use and enjoyment, in perpetuity, of the community's ever-growing population.
The residents of the city need to know the facts. The proposal to dramatically increase density at Harbourside needs the votes of only four members of council to become a reality. Mayor Darrell Mussatto and his two allies, Couns. Linda Buchanan and Craig Keating are strongly pro-development and pro-densification. You need only to look at their past voting records. I think it can reasonably be said that these three council members are highly likely to vote in favour of the rezoning proposal come hell or high water.
If the residents of North Vancouver are unhappy with the prospect of yet another estimated 1,600 adults and all their cars being dumped into the Marine Drive corridor, you have a responsibility to make your wishes known to the other four councillors: Bell, Bookham, Clark and Heywood.
I urge all of you to contact each of them by phone, email or in person, and tell them you oppose the construction of 800 more residential units at Harbourside.
Gerry Scott North Vancouver
