PRESERVING parkland is a cause near and dear to many residents of North Vancouver. The fights to protect the forested slopes above Deep Cove and to prevent any discussion of rezoning a portion of Lynn Canyon Park mobilized unprecedented numbers of voters in the District of North Vancouver.
It was mainly in response to those outcries that the council of the day placed park dedication referenda in front of voters to protect the majority of district parkland from tampering.
Once dedicated, such land can only be rezoned after another referendum.
But there is no such dedication in place on the parcel of land adjacent to Murdo Frazer Park that the district is considering for a recovery home for addicted women. Residents from the Pemberton Heights and Edgemont areas who say they do not oppose the recovery home but are concerned about the precedent involved in repurposing parkland don't have much of an argument. The land in question had a rental home on it as recently as 2010, not a public tennis court or a duck pond.
Nevertheless, council has decided to give them a shot at proving they represent the majority viewpoint. They will need to sign up 10 per cent of district electors to a petition opposing the land use by Jan. 28. Given that fewer than 30 per cent of electors turn out for a municipal vote, that's an onerous task and unlikely to succeed.
In the meantime, we congratulate Turning Point, the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and district staff for finally finding a way to create a much-needed facility in our community.
