More is not better, it's just more

Dear Editor:

I have lived on the North Shore for 30 years (City and District of North Vancouver, currently in West Vancouver). I have seen lots of change, and with it, growth, inevitably linked.

The questions facing us now is how much, and at what cost to quality of life.

Recent developments have focused on densification, which is needed to a point. The key question never addressed is, infrastructure supporting the increase in population, in particular, major roads and bridges. Councils seem obsessed with growth and densification at any cost, pretending there is little they can do to stop it.

Guidelines dictate that each municipality must accept certain amounts of growth to play a role in Metro's expansion. There is no real discussion about when, or how, to say "enough is enough."

Think back, not many years ago, when the District of North Vancouver floated the idea of 15,000 new single-family homes in the Parkway area, to be developed over 10 years - 75,000 more people, conservatively, with five people per home. Many would be heading to jobs over the Ironworkers Memorial (Second Narrows) bridge. When that idea was floated, there was zero discussion or thought given to major infrastructure to support a massive development that would have repercussions North Shore and Metro wide. Ridiculous. Gladly, that one died on the table. How about the current situation in the City of North Vancouver, where council seems intent on sentencing the singlefamily dwelling to death, to be replaced with yet more towers, laneway houses and suites. Really? And that will improve everyone's quality of life? Of course not. And here's a North Shore News quote of the year: "The first voice that I listen to is citizens who are not born yet" (West Van Coun. Trish Panz). Again, really? Council members across the Shore need to listen to the people who live here now, for a reason. The North Shore is one of the most spectacular areas to live, with amenities and recreational opportunities beyond imagination. If development continues at the pace councils want, will we all be enjoying better quality of life? The answer is obvious. More people, traffic, smaller and smaller residences, more towers, less connection to the land. More is not better, it's just more. We are facing death by a thousand cuts. Is even one councillor listening?

Dan Bezanson

West Vancouver