Vivian Vaughan: West Vancouver must reduce carbon footprint

The world around us is changing, and our vision of the future cannot be created without recognizing the need to reduce our carbon footprint. Living with nature, and environmental protection are of paramount importance to this community, and provide the framework for planning our collective future.

Reshaping the mountainside that is West Vancouver won’t really work, and given the preference of the majority of residents, to preserve this beautiful suburb, neither is it entirely desirable.

Upgrading our pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, to reduce the use of gasoline powered cars, has to be an ongoing effort. It is equally important to reduce pollution from engine idling, by improved traffic flow. So co-operation with other jurisdictions, to upgrade the road south of Marine Drive, that connects West Vancouver to North Vancouver, is essential. This has been identified as the next step in alleviating traffic congestion at the Lions Gate bridgehead.

I would like to introduce incentives to encourage low energy building designs, and the use of solar panels, where feasible.

The more interesting aspects of reshaping West Vancouver’s future concern the intricate balancing act between preserving the essential character of our heritage villages, and promoting commercial success. In future, Park Royal is expected to continue as our successful and popular major retail centre.

Further West along the waterfront, Ambleside is the original village and should continue into the future as the location of our major civic buildings. I would like to see our ageing Municipal Hall eventually replaced in a new location, on the south side of Marine Drive, adjacent to the only feasible future stopping place for the Whistler train. This would also be close to Ambleside Pier, to facilitate possible future passenger ferry traffic. All this would contribute to a properly articulated and accessible town centre, with multiple amenities.

Further West, Horseshoe Bay Village is also in need of careful attention in future, due to the overwhelming scale of the ferry terminal. Efforts to contribute to the potential success of the retail merchants will be ongoing.

Our Official Community Plan process enables our residents to collectively redesign our shared vision of the future, every 5 years. There is an opportunity to reaffirm our 1926 Town Planning Act, that specifies we will have no industries, to protect the quality of our residential neighbourhoods.

In our democratic system, it is the residents who will decide the shape of things to come, and they have always preferred slow residential growth, with manageable traffic. My commitment is to a future of fiscal sustainability, whilst maintaining our services in recreation, arts and culture.

Sourced From

What's Next?