Innovate, procrastinate, or deviate? Those seem to be the three choices facing District of North Vancouver this Monday as council grapples with the massive Maplewood innovation district proposal. Meanwhile, the City of North Vancouver is set to do a deep dive with the North Shore’s most fascinating deep sea explorer as Phil Nuytten looks to put a dive tank in a parking lot – all in the name of research. Over in West Vancouver it could be gone, baby, ganja this Monday as council looks to put a stop to pot shops.
District of North Vancouver
The biggest item on the district agenda also happens to be the biggest single development proposal in recent history for the municipality.
A partnership between Darwin Properties and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation is proposing to build an 18-hectare “innovation district” - 130,000 square metres of light industrial and commercial space off Dollarton Highway, along with 230 market rental units, 450 rental suites offered at 10-per cent below market rates available only to employees who work on the North Shore and 220 market condo units.
If the proposal passes first reading on Monday, a formal public hearing will be held in September.
Council will also have their final say on a 193-unit project just down the road. Maplewood Partnerships Inc. has applied to build 10,500-square feet of commercial space with 155 market strata units, 28 market rental units and 10 below-market rental units in two six-storey buildings at the current site of the Maplewood Plaza.
Lastly, council is set to vote on an 88-unit, six-storey residential building on Oxford Street.
City of North Vancouver
The city is set to debate what may be the most fascinating temporary use permit in the history of temporary use permits.
Deep sea explorer Phil Nuytten is applying to put a demonstration dive tank in a parking lot on the 200 block of East Esplanade. Nuytten, who has contracts with NASA, the Vietnam Navy and Jean-Michel Cousteau, would use the tank for research and development of underwater technology.
Council is also expected to mull bumping the city’s base business licence fee from $111 to $128 and to debate the merits of a five-storey, 44-unit strata pencilled in for 236-254 East Third St.
After being waylaid last week over back alley access concerns, the five-storey 27-unit Chesterfield Avenue co-housing development is back on the docket for Monday. If approved, the project would become the city’s second co-housing complex and the first in 20 years.
West Vancouver
As Canada swings toward marijuana legalization, West Vancouver is veering toward prohibition. The district is considering a bylaw that would ban the production and sale of cannabis in the district. Any West Vancouverite who wants to discuss the ups, downs, highs and lows of marijuana can offer their two cents on dimebags at a public hearing Monday night.
The public is also invited to voice their opinions on a proposed a 12-storey, 37-unit apartment building in the Rodgers Creek area near Cypress Bowl Road.
