Delegation pans plans for Site 8
Citizens assoc.: No development of any sort
Heidi Castle, North Shore News
Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2008
NO development -- period -- for Site 8 is what the Lonsdale Citizens Association wants in lieu of a proposed 400-foot residential tower on the city's waterfront.
"We totally reject any proposals," Ivan Leonard, co-chairman of the LCA, told council Monday. "The OCP is what we have to protect.
"The city should not sell city-owned land. It's the last piece of property we have on the waterfront. Preserve it, protect it for future generations," he said before an overflow crowd of some 100 supporters.
Each supporter wore red as a symbol against a proposed 36-storey development advanced by Millenium Developments in October 2007 for the southeast corner of Esplanade Avenue and Rogers Avenue.
Site 8 comprises property held by Millenium and adjacent city-owned property for a total of some 2.75 acres west of the foot of Lonsdale Avenue.
The original proposal saw a density transfer off the city land to the Millenium property in exchange for a host of civic amenities including a waterfront home for Presentation House Gallery and a floating 25-metre swimming pool on a new public wharf.
"As an educated and knowledgeable community we understand the needs of our fast-changing world," said Leonard. "We recognize the need for greater density, for greater employment opportunities within the community and for better transit in our community. We understand the meaning of sustainability.
"But this project by Millenium Developments, no matter what height or density proposed is unacceptable on this location.
"The initial 400-foot tower proposed gave citizens a severe shock-and-awe experience from which they are still very angry and fearful," said Leonard.
Since the proposal's debut, membership in the citizen's association has grown by some 40 per cent.
The city should not give up its last bit of the waterfront, he said. "There's those things in life that are simply priceless, this open public space with its waterfront views is one of them."
"Any proposal that violates the OCP must be rejected," said Leonard. "The OCP must be respected, the citizens must be respected."
Leonard handed the city clerk a two-inch-thick stack of petitions signed by 2,950 people rejecting the proposal. Of those, 214 signatures were from District of North Vancouver and District of West Vancouver residents, while 61 were from people living on the Vancouver side of Burrard Inlet, he said.
John Calder, a resident of West First Street, spoke in conjunction with Leonard. He said council stands to loose public trust if it disregards the OCP.
Good governance depends on following community expectations, said Calder.
"Public trust in elected bodies is never that high," he said. "Unfortunately when an issue of this nature emerges that trust is further eroded."
When he first heard of the project he said he thought it was an April Fool's joke. He told council many people believe it's a set-up, so that future proposals won't seem as dramatic or confrontational.
Council needs to clarify density transfer to developers and stop pitting elements in the community against each other with offers of amenities, he said.
Mayor Darrell Mussatto declined the opportunity from the North Shore News to give his personal opinion about Millennium's proposal or its process, saying only that council would debate the issue "likely March 3."
"At that time, I am sure that council will have something to say about the proposal."
Mussatto said council has not discussed Millennium's proposal since Oct. 15 when it agreed unanimously to put the concept of the tower to the public as part of a rezoning process.
Millennium subsequently hosted one overcrowded public information meeting at Lonsdale Quay in December. The company ran a full-page advertisement in the Feb. 17 North Shore News promising "alternative building forms" and inviting the community to share thoughts and ideas with its architect, Gregory Heriquez.
© North Shore News 2008