West Van approves
controversial Dundarave Beachside development
Council members had
strong words for a misinformation campaign claiming the proposed building was
taller than it actually is.
Brent Richter
Jul 26, 2022 10:02 AM
A proposed development is going ahead at 2452-2496 Marine Dr. in West Vancouver. Council approved the project on Monday, July 27, 2022.IBI Group
West Vancouver council has given the OK for a
controversial mixed-use development in Dundarave, and condemned a
misinformation campaign opposing it.
Council voted 6-1 Monday night (July 27) in favour
of Dundarave Beachside LP’s three-storey development, which takes up the southwest
half of the 2400 block of Marine Drive.
Once completed, the building at 2452 to 2496 Marine
Dr. will hold 55 strata homes, 12,000 square feet of commercial space fronting
Marine (including a large space earmarked for a new drugstore), 10,000 square
feet of office space facing the lane, plus a new public plaza at Marine and
25th.
The project is compliant with the district’s
official community plan and zoning, so it did not require a public hearing to
advance, only a vote by council to allow for a height variance.
Still, dozens of residents turned up or tuned in to
council Monday to sound off, mostly in support of the new homes and
revitalization of the block.
Another, larger contingent wrote to council to
oppose the project, saying its size would jeopardize the seaside village
character of Dundarave.
But several council members called out a campaign
from the West Vancouver Community Stakeholders group asserting the project
would be 10 feet taller than the IGA building across the street when it would
in fact be about two-and-a-half feet shorter.
Coun. Peter Lambur said he found that once people
had the project carefully explained to them, their concerns were largely
assuaged.
“I think it's unfortunate that that did occur in
this project, but I'm confident that the residents in West Vancouver will be
happy with the result,” he said.
Council members spoke positively about the
project’s design, contribution to housing diversity in West Van and the change
it would bring to a block of buildings reaching the end of their useful lives.
“I think really, it'll be a great addition to the
community and I think it will be a great start of the revitalization of one of
our core centres,” said Coun. Marcus Wong.
Coun. Nora Gambioli warned that council’s actions
were being watched, and not just by nearby residents.
“This is really a test of the resolve of our
council to address the housing and climate change crises and if we don't do it,
there is a strong chance that the B.C. government may well take away our
authority to even make these decisions,” she said.
Mayor Mary-Ann Booth acknowledged the angst
that new development and change causes but said there was no need to resort to
dishonesty.
“This push and pull between growth and maintaining
our uniqueness has gone on for over 100 years in West Vancouver. This is not
new. Unfortunately, some of the division is being so sowed by social media,”
she said. “I don't have a problem getting the facts out and encouraging
engagement but when you have to basically lie about something to get people
riled up, that's division – and it's not being sowed by council, and it's not
being sowed by staff, and it's not being sowed by the developer. It's being
sewed by some misguided individuals, and that's not right.”
Coun. Craig Cameron also lamented the decline of
discourse in the municipality.
“When I talked to people about the substance of
this proposal, they quickly realized that what they've been told was not
correct and that the actual proposal is quite modest and quite reasonable,” he
said. “I do think there's a sensible core in this community and I just hope
that we in future are able to have calm, reasoned discussion of these issues.”
Coun. Sharon Thompson voted in favour of the
project, but cautioned council not to be dismissive of a group of people who
felt their way of life was under threat.
“There's still a greater part of the population who
either don't understand the project or they are threatened by it. And in all my
discussions over the last few weeks, you know, there's nostalgia to our
charming seaside villages," she said. "But I in my time with
this, I have come to accept that I think it will be a great addition. It offers
the housing and the commercial vibrancy.”
Only Coun. Bill Soprovich voted against the
proposal.
“I can’t turn away from an awful lot of people that
I talked to who had that sincere feeling in their heart that they want to hold
onto something and this development, in my view, is a lot of massing on the
sidewalk, which is overpowering,” he said.
Businesses evicted from the current sites will be
given first right of refusal to move back into the new commercial spaces under
favourable lease conditions, the developer said, and current West Vancouver
residents will be given exclusive rights to buy the homes for the initial
period when they are put up for sale.
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