Dear Editor:
Regarding the Nov. 21 story by Brent Richter, Packed Onni Hearing Goes 6 Hours: While there would appear to be a four-or five-to-one ratio in favour of this project, Richter did not mention that at least one petition was presented opposing the project with a 100 and more names on it. I guess he forgot to mention "the silent majority" that some councillors always talk about.
Richter has to get some facts straight. He mentions that Onni are offering 44,000 square feet for non-profit housing. This is simply not correct. Onni is only offering 10,000 square feet of space for which the city is giving them a "bonus" of 42,500 square feet.
Also, for giving 6,100 square feet for child care, Onni is getting a "bonus" of 44,177 square feet. In addition, Onni are getting a 47,000 square foot "bonus" for providing employment generating office use. But what is not made clear by Onni is that they are going to keep this office space for themselves for "future" use.
When the numbers (dollars) are crunched, Onni are getting huge profits from this project, and the city is really getting back not so much.
Very few at the meeting actually spoke against the project. Who does not support child care and affordable housing? The concern of most of those opposed was the process used by the city and the total demolition of the official community plan.
Also the nagging concern that a number of councillors got election contributions from this very developer.
Ken Hawthorne North Vancouver
