Housing, a revived public waterfront and greener transportation - newly re-elected City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto set out his legislative agenda for the next four years in his inaugural address to council Monday night.
Mussatto started by indicating council will implement the Roger Brooks plan to revive the Shipyards district and Foot of Lonsdale to make it an "animated, lively, family friendly, people place and a destination that attracts and excites people year-round."
"We have a vision and plans that show us the path to accomplish this," he said.
Lower Lonsdale business owners can also expect they'll be getting a Business Improvement Area, which will add an additional levy on their tax bills to be spent on projects meant to foster more commerce in the area.
Not forgotten was the languishing Harry Jerome Recreation Centre, which Mussatto pledged council would be dealing with early in the new year.
Residents can also look forward to a completed Spirit Trail spanning the city's entire east-west border as well expansions of the Green Necklace, both part of the mayor's goal to coax people out of their vehicles.
On the matter, Mussatto said the city will be actively pursuing more transit as a referendum on TransLink expansion and funding looms.
"Effective immediately, council's top priority is to improve bus and SeaBus services on the North Shore. We will work with TransLink to ensure a third SeaBus is a reality and focus on improving the SeaBus area," he said.
Mussatto also stated his policy preferences for the perennial affordable housing problem on the North Shore, which include protecting existing rental housing and ensuring a range of housing options.
"This council wants to make it easier for families to stay in North Vancouver and we will continue to work hard to make home ownership and rent more affordable. During the next four years we will assist residents by streamlining the process for coach houses, secondary suites and the city will actively seek purpose-built rental housing."
Those were issues of contention in the now stalled Official Community Plan, which Mussatto also addressed.
"We are committed to adopting a new OCP as soon as possible," he said.
On the matter of North Vancouver school district lands, Mussatto said he supports the preservation of open space at Lucas Centre and Cloverley.
"While fields there may need improvement, which we will support, I will not support any revision to the zoning of these lands unless absolutely necessary in this term of council," he said.
Mussatto is joined at the council table by firsttime Coun. Holly Back and returning incumbents Don Bell, Craig Keating, Linda Buchanan, Pam Bookham and Rod Clark.
