WEST VANCOUVER COUNCIL

Eileen Buchanan for Council

SAFE NEIGHBOURHOODS

Grassroots

Let's get together.

In June, a little girl was almost run over at the base of a driveway. She was pushed into a gutter by a truck, where she wobbled toward the tires, on a designated bicycle route, with her Dad, in an area of homes and families, on what qualifies as a local street.

Why? Some say: ‘Why was a little girl riding her bicycle on a road with fast trucks?’ Others say: ‘Why was a fast truck on a road with a little girl?’ We need to think about our answer. Why are we standing by? This is dangerous; does not meet Canadian road design standards; increases traffic; damages the climate, neighbourhood and resident health; costs us families; causes anger and divisiveness; could result in liability for West Vancouver tax payers; and is associated with eco-justice issues that are currently being fought in Ontario, BC, and US courts. If we followed Canadian standards, this would have been fixed 3 months ago, by residents, for free. Again, why are we creating situations that cause death and injury?

In the past 2 months, there have been at least 4 major accidents attributable to the same cause, in spite of many, many notifications, including a petition. The petition was sent to Council and Engineering in July.

Based on my research, including a 3-month sampling of hundreds of residents and guests from Lions Bay to Cedardale and the BPs to the beaches, there are similar issues across West Van. These issues are not ‘NIMBY vs Development’, or an art gallery. These issues are costs, safety, children walking and cycling to school, climate, traffic impacts, infrastructure, taxes, divisiveness, fear of ‘West Van stupidity’, inclusivity, health (resident, business and neighbourhood), liveability, affordability, character, history, art, cultures, community engagement, inequities, planned development, smart transit, etc. Affordability solutions came up in various neighbourhood suggestions suitable to the terrain, that would enhance local character with a positive impact on other areas. They ranged from high-rises through a shared street concept with row houses built into a hill. Many expressed disgust that we are considering an art gallery at all, as completely out of touch with what is happening.

I was asked how I would handle divisiveness: In my opinion, it's caused by a failure to be heard. Like traffic, we need to listen and get to the source. I now sense it may be associated with conflicts of interest and misinformation campaigns, using what environmental groups find is common to confuse voters towards a planned end: 'False dichotomies'. For example, 'NIMBY vs development', instead of let's reduce our GHGs, control costs, find where we can add affordable homes with minimal impact, etc. As Pamela Goldsmith Jones said to one group of residents: ‘I know what it’s like when things are allowed to fester.’

A bit about me.... I raised four children here, as an emergency / pediatric / obstetrics nurse, educator, researcher, and then as the CFO/CEO of a land development engineering firm and a project manager. I was born on Erwin Drive, and my grandmother, a famous painter, lived on Sinclair Street. I am involved in project management and community planning, have little waste, and grow most of my vegetables with the help of worms, hummingbirds and butterflies. I enjoyed having my father-in-law and mother with me for seven years in their 90s, have experience with those suffering from addictions and sexual identity concerns, and I am aware of the impacts of hopelessness on a community. People need a voice. I have a passion for nature, and for using innovation and communication to create results that exceed expectations for little cost. You’ll find me on the streets, and on NextDoor, maybe not on signs. Signs end up in landfills.

I believe we need to work together to build on the history that we have inherited. West Vancouver was carefully crafted by innovative architects and planners to take advantage of its magical terrain and greenness. Let’s build on that, not destroy it. We do have great options.

I thank all of you who have shared your time and information. Please keep sending your stories. If you can help, let me know, sign the petition and send it to me, or just share your thoughts with others.

I’d love to visit your area, hear your stories, see your visions, help make them real. Just email.

Best,

Eileen

NEIGHBOURHOODS

Our neighbourhoods must be safe & equitable. Residents should be assisted in speaking out, and developing a sense of community that brings their cultures and history alive, gives them power, and allows them to look after their own.

We cannot be benefitting some groups to the detriment of others, particularly when there is a wealth or power differential.

CYCLING / WALKING

We must increase cycling & walking.

We need to make cycling and walking convenient, fun, and safe for all residents & users, not just the fit or those with access to the Spiril Trail.

We need to ensure our policies (and our lack of policies / passiveness) avoid unintended outcomes.

Children need to be safe walking & cycling to school.

This is 2022. We cannot be displacing important cycle and pedestrian routes with empty buses, and with trucks and cars belonging elsewhere.

We cannot be forcing our cyclists and pedestrians into cars.

ROAD SAFETY

Our roads must be safe.

At least 4 major accidents in one neighbourhood, in 2 months, can be attribututed to failure to act on resident warnings and requests.

We cannot be changing road classifications, intentionally or unintentionally, contrary to Canadian safety standards; contrary to climate and traffic research; without neighbourhood consultation; without feasibility, neighbourhood impact, and eco-justice studies; and without upgrading the roads to meet current safety standards... before making the change.

Changing classifications pits children against trucks in narrow lanes without protection, ghettoizes neighbourhoods, and could be a source of liability.

COSTS

We must get our costs under control.

As treasurer of a large strata, I noted financial discrepancies resulting in fees and levies double what they should have been, benefits given to council members without owner knowledge, and questionable depreciation report practices.

An overall plan with inexpensive actions can lead to dramatic results.

Ad hoc is expensive.

For example, allowing provincial and federal traffic on West Vancouver streets requires expensive safety measures, and will not address the problem.

TRANSIT

Our transit plan needs to work with our topography.

In many areas, buses are needed most on the hills, not the flats, connecting cyclists and pedestrians in the steeper areas to the services that are focussed down below.

They cannot be displacing cyclists and pedestrians on our precious flats.

HOPE / ENGAGEMENT / OCP

All West Vancouver residents and stakeholders need a voice.

Ad hoc changes, including in the OCP, are susceptible to minority influence, corruption, and inequities.

The OCP is inaequate and inequitable. For example, the 2018 version includes major changes that were not discussed with residents, and likely did not include feasibility, neighbourhood impact, and climate considerations.

We cannot have areas feeling hopeless.

HOUSING

We need a plan made in West Vancouver, in consultation with neighbourhoods.

There are some great solutions that add character and create options where people want to live.

Affordable solutions do not require a box.

CLIMATE

We need to protect our wildlife, our climate, our vegetation, and our waterways.

There is much more that we can do simply, without cost, and in the course of solving other problems.

We need to be a leader here.

TRAFFIC

Traffic must be pushed back to the source.

Flowing freeway and arterial traffic through neighbourhoods, on roads not designed for that use, not only damages neighbourhoods and users, but increases traffic, prevents resolution of existing traffic issues, damages infrastructure and increases taxes.

OPTICS

We need to present West Vancouver as something more than elitist.

West Vancouver has pockets of great wealth, but is not wealthy, and most residents are not wealthy.

Land prices have increased everywhere, along with other costs. Residents needing to sell have to live somewhere, and residents aging in place should not be made to feel guilty. Noone should be denigrated for being a single person in their home.

If this is a concern, then we should be considering policies (with residents) regarding zoning, and the size of single family homes that are being approved.

Allowing pervading biased optics of privilege impacts West Vancouver's ability to negotiate fair solutions.

Council needs to stand up for West Vancouver, not support the provincial government and other agencies in threatening residents.

PARKS

We need to ensure equity in the distribution of parks.

We should not be selling parks in one area for the benefit of another, without consulting all those in the neighbourhood who might be impacted.

SCHOOLS

Children need to be able to walk & cycle to school.

Schools and neighbourhoods where children live, and where we want children to live, should not be swimming with trucks and commuters who belong elsewhere.

There are solutions.

Let me know if you can help.

Comments? Stories? Questions?

info@ashespaces.com

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