CITY of North Vancouver council is deadlocked on the best way to move forward with a huge development proposal that would transform the city's waterfront.
With Coun. Bob Fearnley absent, council was stalemated at 3-3 June 27 on the question of whether to name a city-staff-led task force to study the project or let the developer, Concert Properties, continue with its own public consultation.
The Harbourside proposal would fill the lands immediately south of the Northshore Auto Mall. First floated in June of 2009, Concert hopes to redevelop the commercially zoned lands to include 700 to 800 residential units and a hotel, as well as 370,000 square feet of office space.
Council has eyed the concept without much enthusiasm and expressed concern over introducing so much residential density into an area reserved for business and close to industrial operations.
Nevertheless, Concert has pressed ahead with public consultation and drafted various possible scenarios for the area. In several presentations before council, Concert's representatives signalled their hope to apply for an amendment to the official community plan, which itself is slated for review next year.
"We recently had a learning experience in seeing what can happen when a proponent for a project takes charge of the public consultation process," said Coun. Pam Bookham, referring to the defeat of the Low Level Road realignment, voted down after several residents expressed frustration with Port Metro Vancouver's process.
"We are travelling down a similar path with respect to this Concert proposal," Bookham said. "I think it's time to bring the community in, in a more formal way that is led by staff as opposed to the developer, where some of those questions are addressed right from the get-go, such as do we think it appropriate to have mixed-use development on the waterfront."
Mayor Darrell Mussatto disagreed, and said he preferred to see Concert do the consultation legwork. "We are going to spend a lot of time going around this again, and I'd rather have the applicant spend the time and energy while our staff work on more pressing things, such as the official community plan."
Mussatto said he would have opposed the entire plan 10 to 15 years ago, but his views on development south of Marine Drive had evolved to see some benefits to growth in the area.
The issue will be debated again with a full council.
balldritt@nsnews.com
