Category: Newsletters

Dear ADRA Member,

In the best interests of your time, we are sending Part 1 of our February newsletter as there are two, time sensitive items which require your action.  One relates to the 2021 Budget and the other to a potential rezoning at 1763 Bellevue, outside of the Ambleside Town Centre Local Area Plan. 

ACTION ITEM:  2021 PROPOSED BUDGET:  Do You Support a 5.2% Increase?

The Budget will be coming to Council for consideration on MONDAY, MARCH 8TH.  If you have not done so, there is still time to make your views known to Mayor and Council either by email or phone calls.  ADRA sent a detailed letter on the budget on February 4th. 

Our main concern is the economic reality that faces the taxpayer, i.e. YOU!  Is this a time when the Municipal Budget should be expanding beyond inflation, that we should be adding staff (the major portion of DWV budget), that we should be moving ahead with any new projects, i.e. Arts Centre.

In these difficult and challenging times, we do not consider a 5.2% increase appropriate.  
This is a time to focus on core services delivery and essentials.  Not a time to be pursuing major NEW strategic objectives.

Please read  the letter (on the right-side-panel) from ADRA to Mayor and Council for full details.

Email /Call to Mayor & Council

[email protected]
Councillor Craig Cameron  [email protected]      604-828-0805
Councillor Nora Gambioli   [email protected]       604-653-8823
Councillor Peter Lambur    [email protected]       604-644-1769
Councillor Bill Soprovich   [email protected]   604-561-3219
Councillor Sharon Thompson    [email protected]       604-209-4621
Councillor Marcus Wong     [email protected]        604-219-0064
Mayor Mary-Ann Booth     [email protected]       604-925-7000

ACTION ITEM:  MASONIC HALL SITE – 1763 Bellevue Avenue

This item will be coming to Council on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND.  
Council has the option of letting it proceed to a preliminary development proposal now OR to not consider rezoning 1763 Bellevue until the completion of the Ambleside Town Centre Local Area Plan.  ADRA Directors DO NOT SUPPORT REZONING NOW BUT TO WAIT UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE AMBLESIDE TOWN CENTRE LOCAL AREA PLAN.

https://westvancouver.ca/home-building-property/planning/major-applications/masonic-hall-1763-bellevue-avenue

Email/call to Mayor and Council  (addresses above) 

Why should this project be allowed to proceed ahead of the Local Area Plan (LAP) yet to be developed for Ambleside?  There is no significant community benefit to warrant this step.  It would set a precedent for development in this area ahead of the LAP.  
 Staff have concerns with the density, building width, parking functionality, number and size of rental units and the potential inclusion of community facility space.

ACTION ITEM:  HORSESHOE BAY LOCAL AREA PLAN – February 26 Deadline

This is an opportunity to provide your input into the proposed plan for Horseshoe Bay Village, to add density, housing and retail space.  What is your vision for this unique community in West Vancouver?  
https://www.westvancouverite.ca/plan-hsb

https://adrawestvan.ca

Dear ADRA Members,

With a new year upon us, your ADRA directors have jumped right back into community involvement mode! On January 6th, a special meeting was held to discuss the Inglewood Campus of Care proposal: to identify positive points and major concerns. On January 13th, we held our first board meeting of the year with a very full agenda. The date for our Annual General meeting has been set for WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 at 7 p.m. More details will follow.

Foremost on our minds is the 2021 District Budget process. Public consultation will commence at the end of January in the form of two information meetings and an online comment form.

As you may recall the initial increase proposed for 2020 was 6%, well beyond the inflation rate and not reflective of the economic and health crisis caused by COVID 19. . Through the combined efforts of ADRA, other community groups and residents, the increase was reduced to 2%. You can appreciate why your involvement is so important.

ADRA directors will be reviewing the budget material along with the revised Strategic Plan and reporting back to members. We urge you to register for one of these public (virtual) information sessions to gain your own perspective on proposed Municipal spending for 2021.

Thursday, January 28 from 6–7 p.m.
Friday, January 29 from 1–2 p.m.

FULL DETAILS ON REGISTRATION, ETC. ARE AVAILABLE AT the westvancouverite site:
REGISTER HERE: https://www.westvancouverite.ca/budget

An online comment form will also be available from Tuesday, January 26 to Tuesday, February 9.

The next ADRA newsletter will include details on:

ADRA AGM Wednesday, February 10 at 7 pm (via Zoom – passcode will be emailed on the day)

AND information on the following ongoing projects:-
* Navvy Jack Park
* Inglewood Campus of Care Update
* WV Community Stakeholder ‘Vision’ Survey
* ADRA Community Outreach

In the meantime, please consider renewing your ADRA membership for 2021.

The fee is $10.00 and includes a couple at the same e-mail address. You may send a cheque to:
ADRA
2336 Marine Dr.
West Vancouver V7V1K8

OR – See the website – and send a bank transfer to: [email protected]

Dear ADRA member
Here is an update of what’s been happening in our seaside villages over the past few weeks.  A separate email will be following shortly regarding the Klee Wyck property.  This item is on the Council agenda for December 7th so please watch for this important update!


ARTS CENTRE SURVEY/SUMMARY OF RESULTS
ADRA members recently completed a survey on the proposed Arts Centre, the top project identified by Council as part of their 2020/2021 Strategic Plan.A summary of the results showed a general reluctance to the notion that the DWV should undertake major projects with significant financial implications in 2021 and in particular, that an Arts Centre should not comprise a major project in the coming year.  A copy of the results have been sent to Mayor and Council asking if the Strategic Plan will be revised given the current COVID economic and health crisis.   A complete analysis of the survey is available at:   ADRAwestvan.ca

AMBLESIDE STREETSCAPES
Construction work continues at the 14th Street and Marine Drive Intersection.  Work continues as part of a plan approved by Council in 2013.  Creation of bumpouts and repaving on the south side are funded through development.  Reconstruction work on the north side is funded by Translink as Marine Drive is a designated corridor in the Major Road Network.  More details are available:westvancouver.ca/transporation-roads/major-projects/ambleside-projects

DUNDARAVE/ PALM TREES 
Seven palm trees have been recently planted in Dundarave Park.  These trees were donated to West Vancouver by Earls restaurant. Dundarave Park, already home to palm trees, was chosen as the new location for these mature palm trees.   The new trees provide shade for beach users, and there are plans to include dune grass, driftwood logs, and additional benches in the area. Staff have undertaken the installation within available resources. 

DUNDARAVE/TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES
Council approved a temporary Pilot Program to allow businesses to apply online for an extension of outdoor space  through to October 3, 2021.  The District is working closely with the ADBIA and local businesses to support them in this uncertain economic environment, while helping them to adhere to the health and safety requirements of the Provincial Health Officer.  Council welcomes feedback from the community. https://westvancouver.ca/economy/covid-19-business/temp-outdoor 

FILMING IN DUNDARAVE AND JOHN LAWSON PARK   
Netflix feature will be filmed in the playground of John Lawson Park on Monday, November 30 and Tuesday, December 1. The playground will be closed.  As a thank you from the production, look for additional picnic benches in the spring. Please expect intermittent pedestrian and traffic delays in Dundarave on Wednesday, December 2. https://westvancouver.ca/news/filming-dundarave-and-john-lawson-park

OCTOBER 20TH  @ 6 PM –  PUBLIC HEARING – COACH HOUSE INFILL-
1186 DUCHESS AVENUE

An application has been made to add a Coach House onto a 33 ft. lot where the existing house has already been built out to the maximum allowed Floor Area Ratio*(FAR).  Initially Coach Houses were allowed to be built on lots where the existing structure did not exceed the FAR.* The addition of a Coach House on this particularly small lot requires spot rezoning.  
For further details please visit  

https://westvancouver.ca/home-building-property/planning/major-applications/1186-duchess-avenue

OCTOBER 29TH & NOVEMBER 5TH – INGLEWOOD CARE CENTRE

Baptist Housing will host public information meetings on their proposal for a 699 unit development at Inglewood Care Centre site and adjacent acquired properties. Considerable additional floor area is proposed – much of it allocated to non-care purposes such as staff accommodation and ‘Life-Leases’ similar to condos. 

For more information see our HOT-TOPICS tab.

ARTS FACILITY SURVEY

Last chance to complete the ADRA Arts Facility Survey:

https://forms.gle/e6Hw4sokgdP8yMx99

MISCELLANEOUS:

DON’T KNOW WHO TO CALL?

Do you have questions, need information about operations within the District of West Vancouver?  Contact:

Natalie Roizman, COMMUNITY RELATIONS LIAISON
604-925-7008      [email protected]

DWV NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!

Would you like to get more involved with the DWV?  Volunteers are needed on a number of committees.  Applications may be submitted to 4:30 pm on October 23rd.  Check the DWV website to access the Community Involvement Application Form or call Legislative Services 604-925-7004.

TRAFFIC AND CORNER BUMPOUTS

If you have noticed the proliferation of concrete “Bump-Outs” and the “Slow Streets” notices on Bellevue – write to us with your comments regarding how easy (or otherwise) it is to drive around West Van!  [email protected]