A proposed bylaw that seeks to limit the uses of closed schools was met with vociferous support at a District of North Vancouver council meeting Monday.
Reacting to the schools that have been closed in North Vancouver, the bylaw is an attempt to alleviate residents' concerns about traffic and parking issues.
The bylaw, currently being drafted by district staff, is also intended to ensure meaningful public debate before a school is repurposed.
"Land use is the domain of the municipal council," said Coun. Roger Bassam. "I'm going to support this whole-heartedly."
The North Vancouver school board deals with many pressures, including a declining student population and province-wide changes to the formula for funding schools, according to Franci Stratton, North Vancouver Board of Education chairwoman.
"Schools need to be as flexible as possible," she said. "If we're inhibited . . . then we can't move forward."
Coun. Alan Nixon disagreed, stating that there was no intent to fetter the school board's ability to provide programming.
"I think the school board is trying its very best in a very financially constrained environment," he said. "It will necessitate a fulsome public hearing before adoption of the bylaw."
Nixon cited Capilano elementary as an instance when more consultation may have been fruitful.
The school went from the brink of closure to becoming an International Baccalaureate school in 2008.
While residents were pleased to save the school, they found themselves chagrined at the 40-50 cars in the neighbourhood each morning and afternoon, according to Nixon.
"We are in a position to at least have some influence over land use," Nixon said, noting that discussions about repurposing should not take place "in a vacuum."
Stratton reminded council that many schools provide "wraparound services," including daycare, as well as before-and afterschool care.
"This is a document that we need to look at," Stratton said, referring to the collaboration agreement between council and the school board.
The district has not upheld the spirit of collaboration, according to Coun. Mike Little. "We've violated this agreement," he said.
Little chastised council for taking an "adversarial approach," and failing to involve the school board in discussions before calling on staff to draft a new bylaw.
"This potential solution is really a reactive solution," said Mayor Richard Walton. "The public expects us to move above and beyond reactive solutions."
Walton acknowledged that the catalyst for the bylaw was the public outcry over bringing adult education classes to Balmoral secondary this September.
"This does not change what's going on in Balmoral," Little stressed. The proposed bylaw "puts the cart before the horse," according to Little, who said council already has a role to play in any new instance of commercial land use.
Little submitted a motion to defer the proposed bylaw for one month, but his motion received no support.
Walton pledged to support the proposed bylaw as a means of furthering dialogue with the school board.
Coun. Robin Hicks concurred. "I think this proposal has brought an issue that has been simmering below the surface to light," he said.
The proposed bylaw received support from the public, with nine speakers praising the motion.
"The proposed bylaw changes are a step in the right direction," said Diana Belhouse, president of the Delbrook Community Association, referring to the proposal as "a breath of fresh air."
Other speakers extolled the importance of taking a longrange viewing in maintaining public lands.
"Declining enrolment is not due to a lack of students," Rick Burns said, reminding council of the multitude of North Vancouver students getting educations at private schools and in West Vancouver.
"If our board can re-attract these students, they will have to have the facilities to house them," he said.
"We want to work together with you to get over some of these challenges," said school board trustee Barry Forward.
The sternest criticism of the motion came from councilwatcher Eric Andersen, who called on council to take a harder line. "I found paragraph A to be on the weak side," he said. "I do not find the proposed bylaw goes far enough."
The motion calls for the repurposing of schools to be "generally" prohibited when additional traffic is added to the neighbourhood.
"How short-sighted can you be?" he asked, drawing loud applause and causing Mayor Walton to pound his gavel and remind the crowd that booing and cheering are generally not allowed in council chambers.
