City of North Van In A Rush To Densify

http://www.nsnews.com/opinion/city-of-north-van-in-a-rush-to-densify-1.781838

Letter to Editor, North Shore News   published Jan 8 2014:

In light of recent letters to the Editor, editorials and opinions pieces in the News we urge City of North Van residents to pay attention to the final stage of the City Shaping process.  Knowing that you strive to present balanced opinions, we haven’t seen anyone commenting how happy they are with the increased traffic, bus waits, the plans to block the waterfront with a ferris wheel, a gambling establishment, and the loss of the little heritage remaining etc etc.

 We also urge some Councillors to get in touch with reality – case in point Councillor Buchanan’s statement that Harbourside is a five minute walk from Marine Drive, a transit line.  We’ve timed the walk and a reasonably fit individual can do it in about 14 minutes – however no one with mobility challenges, or pushing a stroller would be able to use the Fell overpass.  The other access option is a level rail crossing.

 
The next phase of “community engagement” will be open houses, feedback forms and a Town Hall meeting scheduled in March.  Previous engagement opportunities have been biased in favour of rapid densification.  We told Council last year that we believed the process was being stage managed to achieve the predetermined goal to accelerate the densification in the City of North Van.  Discussions have been framed and channeled by the assumption that big density is inevitable.  At no time were we asked “how fast should we grow? Or “how big is big enough? – See more at: http://www.nsnews.com/news/opinion-city-shaping-biased-in-favour-of-density-1.391676#ixzz2Ws0OYrb6

We are vastly overexceeding the Regional Growth Strategy Targets, with the planned development already, we are at 29% of the 2041 targets*. Yet there has still been no attempt to ask residents if they are satisfied with the rush to densify.  Judging by the letters to editor printed recently they are not – and the major developments coming up (1308 Lonsdale, 101 Lonsdale, 161 East Keith, Harbourside, two Polygon applications) have not yet started construction.

We urge residents to speak up – ARE WE BIG ENOUGH YET?

Toni Bolton for
North Van City Voices.

*Note: the 29% refers to a previous article CNV planned growth already 29% from 2011.