Dear Editor:
RE: Ambleside Centre Plan Stalls At West Vancouver Council, June 4 news story
For decades, West Vancouver has struggled to move forward on one of the most pressing issues of our time: housing.
And for decades, the same names and tactics have stood in the way of progress. Chief among them is the Ambleside Dundarave Residents Association (ADRA).
Now, with the proposed Ambleside local area plan (LAP) once again on the table, years after it was supposed to be completed, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. This plan, developed through meaningful engagement with community members, stakeholders, and the district’s planning department, is not some hastily assembled document. It is a thoughtful, balanced roadmap for the future of Ambleside, informed by data, consultation, and the clear need for more diverse housing options in our community.
But once again, ADRA is claiming there’s too much density. Who is this small group of individuals asking for more time? Who do they represent?
It is always the same faces and names that appear at council meetings. And once again, too many members of council seem ready to roll over, as they so often have when ADRA shows up with another letter or delegation.
Let’s be clear: ADRA doesn’t speak for all of West Vancouver. They speak for a narrow interest group committed to keeping Ambleside and Dundarave locked in time, a postcard-perfect image that benefits the few at the expense of the many. They want Ambleside to remain exclusive and elite, accessible only to a shrinking demographic that can afford multi-million-dollar single-family homes, while ignoring the growing number of people – including young families, workers, and seniors – who simply cannot afford to live here anymore.
And yet, paradoxically, they still expect thriving local businesses, accessible services, and high-quality infrastructure. What they refuse to acknowledge is that those things can only be sustained by a broader tax base by welcoming more residents, by allowing new housing options, and by creating a livable, inclusive town centre. You can’t have vibrant shops and services if no one who works in them can afford to live nearby.
The Ambleside LAP is not radical. It reflects careful planning, a clear need, and community input. If council is serious about addressing our housing shortfall and meeting the provincial mandates they’re now legally obligated to deliver, they need to stop allowing a handful of loud voices to drown out the broader public interest.
Karin Kirkpatrick
West Vancouver
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