DISTRICT of North Vancouver council is considering changes that would require more residents to agree to traffic calming on their street as part of a local improvement project.
Council will also consider allowing the resident-led process on busier roads.
Local improvements projects allow residents to pay for construction of traffic calming, like speed bumps and sidewalk bulges, through increased property taxes in a specific area, as long a majority of residents support the changes.
A proposal put forward at a council workshop Nov. 28 would raise the threshold of resident support to 60 per cent of area residents, based on the number of residents and the value of homes.
Many councillors, however, said it should be raised as high as a two-thirds majority, since when approved, it requires all owners to contribute money to pay for the improvement.
As well, staff asked council to consider allowing local improvement projects on collector roads such as Berkley Avenue or 15th Street in Norgate, as opposed to just local area roads. Most of the new improvements coming in are on collector roads, said Erica Geddes, transportation section manager at the district.
"Our approach previously was to conduct a neighbourhood-wide study, but that took a lot of time, a consultant, and sometimes there's only one issue on a collector road - usually speeding," she said. Now, residents will be able to lead the process themselves, saving the district money.
In a non-binding show of hands, the only councillor who opposed a two-thirds majority vote was Coun. Lisa Muri, who said there were serious problems with speed, including on collector roads.
Staff will prepare changes based on council's recommendations to bring to a council meeting.
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
Regular council meeting, Monday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec.15, 7 p.m. www.dnv.org
City of North Vancouver Regular council meeting, Monday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m.
www.cnv.org
District of West Vancouver Regular council meeting, Monday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. www.westvancouver.ca
North Vancouver School District 44 Towards the Future for Schools Standing Committee meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.
West Vancouver School District 45 Public board meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. - compiled by Debbie Caldwell
