Expect a humid July with frequent clusters of potential developments and concerned residents.
The District of North Vancouver has tentatively scheduled four public hearings between July 3 and 17.
On Tuesday, July 3, council is scheduled to hear from the public on a six-storey, 106-unit rental building for seniors at 2555 Whiteley Court next to the Kiwanis tower. On the same night, district residents can voice concerns and queries on a five-storey development at 600 West Queens Rd. – site of the old Delbrook community centre -- that would include 80 non-market rental units and an 18-bed seniors’ respite care facility.
The public gets their say on a pair of townhouse projects on July 10. They’ll hear the merits and drawbacks of a 15-unit development at 1920 Glenaire Drive and a project that would put 39 townhouse units in two four-storey buildings on Heritage Park Lane.
The schedule doesn’t allow ample time for the public to take a sober look at the projects, according to council watcher Peter Teevan.
“To me, it’s disturbing on multiple levels,” he said.
The schedule is adjusted according to the will of council and is by no means ironclad, said District of North Vancouver spokeswoman Stephanie Smiley.
The meetings are scheduled in advance to ensure staff is on hand.
“From our perspective, scheduling ahead like that is prudent planning,” she said.
However, Teevan said that the speed at which some applications are advancing could lead to critical details being missed. “In the middle of that context: how do they make a good decision?” he asked. “We’re not dotting our i’s and crossing our t’s.”
There had been a hearing scheduled for a massive project by Darwin Properties and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation on the 2400 block of Dollarton Highway, including 680 rental units and 220 market strata units, as well as more than 1.3-million square feet dedicated to employment space but that hearing will likely take place in September.
While there isn’t a policy in place, West Vancouver attempts to hold public consultation outside of “typical vacation months” including July, according to municipal spokeswoman Donna Powers.
The City of North Vancouver has public hearings slated for July 9 and 23.
