CIVIC RECORD
Selected correspondence, published commentary and media coverage | 2011-2026
30 selected items
June 2011·Planning & Development
Supports redevelopment of the 1300 block within the OCP while raising concerns about height and density, cumulative traffic impacts, developer-led consultation, realistic alternatives, transparency and the financial interests associated with District-owned land. PDF
February 2012·Planning & Development
Questions the proposed sale of District-owned land before rezoning, argues for balancing financial objectives with resident concerns, and calls for clear density limits and a predictable planning framework for Ambleside. PDF
May 2018·Planning & Development
Concerns about the proposed high-rise development at Marine Drive and Taylor Way, including public opposition, traffic, housing need and the lack of an overall Park Royal neighbourhood plan. PDF
May 2018·Planning & Development
Follow-up challenging the rationale and evidence used to support the Gateway proposal, including traffic assumptions, housing objectives, density and Council's response to public concerns. PDF
August 2019·Governance & Transparency
Recommendations to improve public trust through more transparent decision-making, meaningful public engagement, timely responses, fewer closed meetings and better access to public information. PDF
November 2019·Planning & Development
Opposition to additional density at Rodgers Creek, citing car dependence, infrastructure costs, housing affordability, the absence of a housing policy and the importance of reflecting public sentiment. PDF
January 2020·Heritage & Neighbourhood Character
Support for preserving Boyd House while calling for reasonable limits on the size of a new dwelling, better public notice, sufficient parking and policies that protect heritage and neighbourhood character. PDF
February 2020·Transportation & Mobility
Concerns that reducing residential parking requirements before improving transit would shift vehicles onto neighbourhood streets and create additional accessibility, cycling and traffic impacts. PDF
June 2020·Planning & Development
Opposition to further height and density at the Gateway development, raising concerns about spot-zoning, community amenity contributions, public engagement and repeatedly changing an adopted area plan. PDF
July 2020·Housing
Questions the proposed subsidized rental project on District land, advocates considering co-operative housing alternatives, and calls for broader public involvement before committing a valuable community asset. PDF
July 2020·Governance & Transparency
Raises concerns about inconsistent moderation and restrictions on public comment at the Gateway public hearing, arguing for fair treatment of differing viewpoints and meaningful public participation. PDF
February 2021·Financial Responsibility
Calls for a back-to-basics budget focused on core services, maintenance of existing assets and restraint in new capital projects, staffing and payroll costs. PDF
February 2021·Planning & Development
Opposes rezoning the former Masonic Hall site before completion of an Ambleside area plan, citing excessive height and density, loss of community-use space and concerns about subjective community-benefit exceptions. PDF
February 2021·Planning & Development
Raises concerns that proposed height and density conflict with Horseshoe Bay's small-village character and that consultation results understate public concern about the scale of development. PDF
June 2021·Planning & Development
Supports protecting Horseshoe Bay's distinctive village character and missing-middle housing while seeking firm height limits, controls on the pace of growth, protection of community-use land and better public engagement. PDF
July 2021·Governance & Transparency
Opposes a proposed bylaw governing public communications, raising concerns about subjective standards and the potential to discourage legitimate criticism and public participation. PDF
March 2022·Planning & Development
Opposes rezoning community-use land in Horseshoe Bay beyond what the recently adopted LAP contemplated, emphasizing planning certainty and the long-term value of community-use space. PDF
April 2022·Planning & Development
Opposes a substantial increase in density at the Evelyn development, questioning the affordability benefit of market and below-market rental and advocating smaller-scale, incremental growth. PDF
March 2023·Housing
Questions additional density for market-rental micro-suites, their affordability and suitability for identified housing needs, and calls for a comprehensive Taylor Way and Park Royal area plan. PDF
September 2023·Housing
Opposes rezoning a new Ambleside development for short-term rentals, citing impacts on long-term housing availability, rents and consistency with the District's housing objectives. PDF
March 2024·Planning & Development
Opposes increasing permitted density on purpose-built rental sites, raising concerns about neighbourhood character, sunlight, views, green space, affordability and insufficient public scrutiny. PDF
July 2024·Public Realm & Neighbourhood Character
Opposes an oversized retaining wall beside the Centennial Seawalk, citing its scale and visual impact and supporting redesign to better protect the public realm. PDF
March 2025·Planning & Development
Argues the proposed plan does not reflect Ambleside's low-rise seaside-village character and warns that upzoning may increase costs for small independent businesses while reducing sunlight, views and village scale. PDF
June 2025·Planning & Development
Calls for lower, village-appropriate height and density, clearer visual information and more time for public review before the plan proceeds to a public hearing. PDF
June 2025·Planning & Development
Opposes advancing a 19-storey infill proposal that does not conform with the recently approved Ambleside Apartment Area LAP, emphasizing planning certainty and adherence to adopted policy. PDF
October 2025·Environment & Urban Forest
Supports stronger protection for mature trees during redevelopment and proposes extending protection to mature hedges to preserve tree canopy, neighbourhood character, stormwater benefits and construction buffers. PDF
March 2026·Housing & Local Decision-Making
Raises concerns about provincially mandated upzoning, infrastructure and transportation impacts, parking, tree canopy, affordability and reduced local decision-making and public input. PDF
April 2026·Planning & Development
Raises concerns about the scale of the Ambleside plan and procedural shortcomings, and calls for a village-scale alternative, clearer impact information and a process that better reflects long-standing community input. PDF
June 2026·Housing, Planning & Financial Responsibility
Main LetterPriority QuestionsDetailed Questions
Supports expansion of publicly funded long-term care while questioning whether the overall scale and ancillary housing are necessary, and seeks greater transparency on financing, public subsidies, infrastructure impacts and alternatives. Archive entry includes the main letter, Priority Questions and Detailed Questions.
September 2026·Quality of Life & Accountability
Requests a post-event assessment of the commercial concert in Ambleside Park, including economic benefits, municipal revenue and costs, neighbourhood impacts, complaints and compliance with the District's Special Events Policy. PDF
5 selected items
January 2014·Governance & Transparency
Questions whether public consultation meaningfully influenced the Grosvenor decision and argues that major development should begin with a clearer understanding of what the community will support. PDF
August 2016·Financial Responsibility
Calls for scrutiny of municipal salaries, benefits and staffing levels, including comparison with the private sector and consideration of long-term affordability for taxpayers. PDF
June 2017·Planning & Development
Calls for a genuine community-driven plan for the Park Royal and Marine Drive area addressing land use, scale, infrastructure, traffic and community priorities before site-specific rezonings proceed. PDF
October 2017·Planning, Sustainability & Livability
Argues that sustainability standards should be embedded in policy rather than negotiated project by project, and that environmental objectives should be pursued without compromising livability. PDF
February 2026·Local Business & Community Character
Supports resolving problems associated with Ambleside pay parking while defending the waterfront's open park character, the seaside-village identity and the importance of local independent businesses. PDF
6 selected items
May 2013·Planning & Development
News coverage of Grosvenor's revised design for the 1300 block of Marine Drive and the community response to its scale and density. PDF
October 2013·Planning & Public Process
Coverage of the public hearing on the Grosvenor proposal for the 1300 block of Marine Drive and the resident participation it drew. PDF
June 2016·Planning & Development
Coverage of Council's decision on the proposed Bellevue Avenue tower following sustained community concern about height and density. PDF
October 2017·Planning & Livability
Coverage of resident advocacy for stronger building design standards and walkable neighbourhoods in the Official Community Plan. PDF
February 2018·Planning & Public Process
Coverage of the timeline for West Vancouver's draft Official Community Plan and questions about public review and engagement. PDF
July 2020·Planning & Development
Coverage of Council's approval of increased height at Park Royal and the calls for a comprehensive area plan. PDF
1 selected item
April 2026·Planning & Provincial Advocacy
On behalf of the Ambleside & Dundarave Residents Association, objects to provincial enforcement of the draft Ambleside Centre Local Area Plan, calls for a transparent, evidence-based process that respects local input, village character and municipal decision-making. PDF
