Dear Editor:
I attended the April 23 council meeting at which Seaspan gave its presentation and, quite frankly, a I cannot see how this project is going to help the people of North Vancouver for the following reasons:
- The spokesman said that the people who live in North Vancouver and knew the shipbuilding industries are now retired. So where are the workers going to come from?
- He also said that the government was going to start focusing on training young people in the shipbuilding industry. Can he tell us when and where this training will take place?
- When the spokesman asked the price of housing in the city, the mayor said at least $600,000 for a condo, to which the spokesman replied, "Our workers won't be earning enough to live here."
- He also was very vague about how building materials would get to the North Shore, nor would he say where all these supplies are coming from, although he did mention trucks, trains or even helicopters. Can one even imagine the noise, pollution and traffic congestion once this project gets started, and yet council will most definitely approve a nine-storey building and a hotel to be built on the adjacent lot. It is so absurd that the buyers of these properties will have to sign an agreement to not complain about the noise.
Now let's look at this stupid proposed residential complex and maybe council can answer the following questions:
- What are the plans for all the additional traffic in this area, what with around 2,000 people living there, the employees for the auto mall, and all the trucks coming in with supplies for the shipyard?
- Where are at least 1,000 shipbuilders going to live and how will they get to work?
- What arrangements have you made with transit for the additional number of people coming and going from the Harbourside development, and workers?
- What guarantee will you give the public that they can still enjoy the waterfront area, especially seniors who enjoy the flat walkways and those of us with dogs?
- What again are the benefits for the people who live in the City of North Vancouver?
I believe the democratic process has been leaving this community, this province and this country for a long time, and I doubt for one minute that the majority on council will even consider any opposing views for the development at Harbourside.
Perhaps it is time that we demand our communities be built by Canadians for Canadians earning Canadian dollars.
Sue Cook North Vancouver
