Dear Editor:
I could only shake my head in disbelief when reading your July 6 story, City Backs Works Yard Land Swap. I am not against the works yard project itself, it might be necessary as pointed out in your article. What irked me was reading about the tradeoff with the developer to another planned project of 375 suites packed into such a small area.
I have noticed in the last few months that the traffic on Third Street and Marine Drive is getting worse by the day, especially during the construction of the two residential projects a few blocks west on Marine Drive. Add the new townhouses on Bewicke Avenue, another large five-storey residential block due to begin construction at the corner of Marine Drive and Bewicke Avenue, and I wonder how the traffic can move at all during commute time and even normal times. Is city hall aware that even the Low Level Road around 4 p.m. is packed with cars from one end to the other?
I question city hall how they envision the future of the city. To me it is becoming an unlivable, traffic-congested city unless there is a plan to build more roads to accommodate future traffic for all the newcomers that are going to settle down in these new developments. It seems to me that the developers are building the city lot by lot without having to abide by the official community plan or by providing a traffic assessment plan. Then there is the complicated density bonus transfers to confuse us citizens even further.
I wonder if I am the only disillusioned citizen who is tired of hearing about the constant new building projects popping up in the city and changing into a congested, noisy place. I have, in the past, spoken out at public hearings about my concern regarding overbuilding in the city, but unfortunately, nobody seems to be listening. Am I the only voice in the wilderness?
Nachiko Yokota, North Vancouver
