Dear Editor:
The district's latest efforts to get residents on side with a substantial density increase by way of highrises in the Lynn Valley Town Centre appears to be getting quite a bit of opposition. And while council and staff seem surprised, they shouldn't be.
Unfortunately, while a great deal of time and effort has been expended by the district in the planning process, it appears that it has all been done with a preconceived notion that substantially increased density is necessary at any cost and as a result, the consultation process has been designed accordingly. The fact is, staff and council have not been listening and we as taxpayers and residents have now been backed into a corner. The only choice being given to residents is input into the preferred height of highrise buildings and the degree of "community amenities" within the town centre.
Regardless of the option selected, Lynn Valley Town Centre will see an increase of 5,000 people by 2030 and this is in addition to normal growth in the surrounding Lynn Valley area. There is no longer an option to select status quo or normal growth for the town centre.
Even if the option for buildings not to exceed eight stories is selected by residents, council may well decide that higher is better so as to get more green space or the so-called community amenities from the developer.
This exercise really highlights a major flaw in the planning and approval process, where council is able to negotiate exceptions to height restrictions or variances to community plans in exchange for financial considerations or other community amenities.
While this is a common practice in many municipalities, it undermines and compromises the planning process and is little more than legal extortion.
While greater height and more amenities in the town centre may be of some benefit to the residents who will be packed into this relatively small area, it does nothing for Lynn Valley residents in general and does not address the ever increasing problem of getting into or out of Lynn Valley.
This situation is truly disappointing and really brings to light the absence of forward thinking.
Bill Stowell North Vancouver
