Last Monday was the coming attractions. Next Monday is the feature presentation.
City of North Vancouver council conducted three public hearings Monday including Alcuin College’s application to move their school to a new campus at 300 West Esplanade, a 57-unit townhouse development over a commercial podium at 177 West Third St., and a temporary real estate sales centre at 802 East Third St.
Council is slated to vote on all three projects at the Dec. 12 meeting when all council members are present. Coun. Craig Keating did not attend Monday’s meeting.
Council chambers were packed during the discussion of Alcuin College’s proposed Lower Lonsdale campus, with both students and parents lavishing praise on the inquiry-based private school.
The kindergarten to Grade 12 school would hit a height of approximately 40 feet and house 15,000 square feet of floor space over one level of underground parking.
Currently located at St. Georges, the new kindergarten to Grade 12 school would replace Hesp Automotive, which currently occupies the site sandwiched by Mahon and Forbes avenues.
The school’s enrolment is 82, but with a new, more spacious location the student population could eventually reach 195, according to representatives from the school.
Much of Monday’s discussion covered traffic planning, with questions raised about morning drop-offs and afternoon pickups.
Generally, the school staggers class times and has parents with younger children park closer to the school and parents with older children park farther away in order to spread the traffic impact.
The school also offers a car-share program and transit subsidies for staff and students.
“I’m not sure that that area is going to be able to accommodate a peak of 38 (vehicles), which seems low,” noted Coun. Linda Buchanan.
The building would cover 89 per cent of the 7,901 square-foot site, extending nearly to its property lines on each side.
The school doesn’t include a gymnasium but students tend to use community centres as well as facilities like Griffins Boxing and Fitness and Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak.
During the discussion of the five-storey townhouse development set for West Third Street, Buchanan suggested the project would likely appeal to downsizing couples as opposed to young families.
Coun. Don Bell inquired about the project’s “lack of amenity space” but was told the developer’s target demographic tends to prefer larger suites that facilitate entertaining at home.
The project got a boost from residents John Jennings and Robert Marchand, who both suggested the concrete building with dark brick columns would be a step in the right direction.
“It certainly improves on an empty lot,” Jennings said.
The project is slated to include 11 commercial units. While there are no confirmed tenants, the developer suggested possible businesses could include a coffee shop, yoga studio and small restaurant.
Coun. Rod Clark inquired about a daycare but was told there wasn’t sufficient outdoor space.
The project would not require an amendment to the city’s official community plan.
Council may be divided on the prospect of a real estate office at East Third Street and Queensbury Avenue, with Coun. Pam Bookham stating she wouldn’t support the proposal due to “traffic challenges” in the neighbourhood.
“I would prefer to see (the office) located in closer proximity to the development but on the south side of Third,” she said.
The office would serve as a sales centre for the development at the 700 block of East Third Street – which is currently awaiting approval – for a maximum of three years.
After the term is up, the lot would revert back to the city.
Plans for extensive landscaping on the site and the removal of invasive species won approbation from Mayor Darrell Mussatto.
Mussatto said he was “very happy” with the project, which he said would result in huge park improvements.
Approval of the office should be contingent on demolishing some of the boarded up houses in the area, according to Coun. Rod Clark. “My concern is all the dilapidated, abandoned houses."
“It’s got nothing to do with you as a developer, it’s got everything to do with Moodyville as a neighbourhood,” he said, noting general unsightliness of the area and an increase in the vermin population.
Developer Qualex Landmark Northern Limited Partnership is hoping to begin demolitions early in 2017.
