Dear Editor:
I am responding to two unfounded accusations against the Lynn Valley Community Association made in letters which the North Shore News published Oct. 19 ("LVCA is dominated by real estate companies and large-scale developers") and Nov. 18 ("LVCA is continuing on the path of excluding everyone in what is happening in Lynn Valley"). Both are completely without merit.
The association is a diverse group of dedicated volunteers who support our community in a variety of ways. Information on the makeup of our board is posted on our website, lvca.ca. Membership is open to any Lynn Valley resident. Our association stays politically neutral while helping bring community concerns to council. Last year we celebrated our 100th anniversary.
The association has worked continuously over the past 18 years to support the creation of future plans for Lynn Valley. People from all walks of life have been involved in producing these community-driven plans. The local area plan was adopted unanimously by council in 1998 and, after an unparalleled series of public consultations in 2009 and 2010, was merged virtually unchanged into the district-wide official community plan. The OCP was adopted unanimously by the current council in 2011. During creation of these plans and in other Town Centre planning processes, Lynn Valley Community Association did its very best to get Lynn Valley residents to participate.
The association remains committed to supporting our community's wishes expressed through the area plan/OCP, and in any redevelopments which may follow. We recently wrote the district expressing our displeasure at the inadequate community notification given about the preliminary applications by Bosa and Safeway (correspondence is posted at our website). Out greatest concerns are that: 1) full and due process takes place; 2) the community is engaged in the approval process; and, 3) proposed redevelopments will provide value back to the community.
It is true that the association scheduled a meeting for Nov. 21 where LVCA members could meet with Bosa to inform themselves about the preliminary application. The meeting was requested by Bosa and we agreed to it. We asked our members to pre-register because we anticipated a turnout which might overcrowd the venue. We believe it is completely proper for any organization to give its membership such an opportunity to learn and think for themselves. The Nov. 21 meeting has since been postponed because we learned the district may be considering further consultation with residents about Town Centre OCP implementation plans. We encourage all residents to become familiar with the OCP, so as to understand the reasons behind the town centre approach. We would also like to point out that every rezoning application requires an extensive public process before council can decide to approve or reject it. The association will work to ensure public input is as broadly based as possible. There is no conspiracy at work here.
You can learn more about LVCA's activity in the community during our Lynn Valley Christmas event (Dec. 2-23) and at our Open House on Dec. 12, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Community Room at Lynn Valley Village, where you can meet board members.
Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like further information.
Eric Miura, president Lynn Valley Community Association
