A dozen candidates vying to fill six spots on District of West Vancouver council slugged it out over density, transparency and bus shelters at an allcandidates debate Thursday night.
The forum was hosted by the West Vancouver Citizens for Good Government.
Despite billing itself as non-partisan and non-issue, the group's endorsement is known to wield significant influence at local ballot boxes.
WVCGG director Gene Quan reminded the Kay Meek Centre crowd that for a fee of $25 they could join the organization and vote in the group's election, which ends with the endorsement of a slate of candidates. The endorsement election is scheduled for next week.
New developments and affordable housing took centre stage at the debate.
"I am so frightened. . . by the Upper Lands turning into 6,000 and 8,000 (square) foot homes," said candidate and litigator Craig Cameron.
Cameron called it "unacceptable" that many seniors were moving out of West Vancouver due to a lack of affordable housing.
The call for affordable housing was a theme of the debate, with candidates like West Vancouver board of education chairwoman Mary-Ann Booth calling on council to consider coach and laneway housing where appropriate.
However, pleasing both established communities and lowincome renters is a difficult balance to strike, according to long-time councillor Bill Soprovich. "I have seen upset neighbourhoods when they are infringed upon by new ideas," he said.
Former councillor and dogged council-watcher Carolanne Reynolds warned affordable housing could attract an influx of renters into the community. "If we build subsidized, affordable housing, they will come from everywhere," she said, adding that seniors should have first dibs on inexpensive housing.
Density was also a frequent topic during the debate.
Former councillor Vivian Vaughan blasted what she saw as council's tendency toward increased density and its practice of zoning land strictly to maximize profit. "Our ailing patient is Ambleside," Vaughan said, discussing what she called "Dr. Density's" constant prescription of upzoning.
According to candidate Max Nikpay, the best way to control taxes in West Vancouver involves hard hats and surveyor's marks. "We need development, definitely," he said.
Former restaurateur David Jones detailed his vision of West Vancouver as a tourist hub. "We need to promote these communities," he said. "Each community needs a village plan."
If handled properly, West Vancouver communities could receive international recognition, according to Jones. "Ambleside could be similar to Whistler or Yaletown," he said.
Former deputy leader of the B.C. Green Party Damian Kettlewell advocated highdensity developments in each West Vancouver neighbourhood.
Gregg Henderson drew the first notable round of applause from the audience with his call for increased transparency in council.
"We need to open the doors on these incamera meetings at city hall," he said.
Henderson cited "surprise Safeways" and "vanishing boat ramps" as reasons to keep an eye on council.
Reynolds echoed Henderson's call for transparency. "It took me 15 years to get council to admit uplift exists. . . now it's a policy," she said.
Reynolds also chastised council for not gaining community support before allowing bus shelters featuring advertising to be built.
Soprovich said the bus shelters that block sidewalks would be moved, but defended the canopies. "We saved you $500,000 with the bus shelters and we're criticized for having advertising on it," he said.
One questioner took issue with plans for West Vancouver's police station and fire hall to share a building adjacent to municipal hall on 17th Street, saying both departments could be compromised if that building fails to withstand a disaster.
Coun. Michael Evison said the services could go together, and even in a worst-case scenario, other fire halls in the district would continue to function.
Despite supporting council on other issues, Cameron spoke against the decision.
"You don't put your police station on the most desirable piece of property in the municipality," he said.
Coun. Trish Panz cited her accomplishments on council during her opening remarks.
"I took on sports groups battling each other for field access," she said. The groups eventually fundraised together, and worked with different levels of government, resulting in Rutledge Field, according to Panz.
Panz also discussed her push for a new parks master plan.
Former teacher and current streamkeeper Nora Gambioli discussed West Vancouver's need for conservative financial management and environmental stewardship.
Notable in his absence was Coun. Michael Lewis, who blasted the WVCGG for their private interviews with candidates, a practice he labelled "undemocratic."
David Marley, member of taxpayers' lobby group ITAC and a supporter of Lewis, was escorted from the Kay Meek Centre's lobby for distributing copies of the North Shore News' Oct. 19 editorial, Think for Yourself.
Also absent was Coun. Michael Smith, who is running unopposed for mayor.
The next West Vancouver all-candidates debate is scheduled for Nov. 9 at the Seniors' Activity Centre on 21st Street at 2: 30 p.m.
The election is scheduled for Nov. 19.
