Focusing on inclusion

West Vancouver is set for a major overhaul of its services and amenities to ensure accessibility for people from all walks of life.

Following a presentation from the district's Measuring Up working group, council accepted an "Access and Inclusion" policy. The policy was sent to the director of parks and community services to incorporate into district initiatives.

The updated guidelines, which focuse on making the community accessible for seniors and people with disabilities, will also be adopted into the 2010 Social Action Plan.

"Twenty-three per cent of (West Vancouver's) population is over 65 (years of age)," the group's co-chair John Bannister told council, adding another 15 per cent deal with mental or physical health issues.

Recently the group completed access improvements to John Lawson Park, which included automatic opening doors to the washrooms, hard-packed trails to the beach and wheelchair-accessible picnic tables.

Bannister encouraged the district to continue upgrading park and beach accesses.

The group also published a "Accessibility Means Business" brochure for businesses.

West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce has expressed an interest in promoting the brochures, Coun. Michael Evison said.

A changing climate

Imagine Hollyburn Country Club's greens becoming a farm.

Farfetched? Possibly, West Vancouver's manager of environment and sustainability Stephen Jenkins said, but it was an idea raised in a report completed by University of British Columbia students on addressing climate change.

The work included estimates on inputs and outputs of ecological and carbon footprints created by communities . The report will be used to help with the discussion of climate friendly solutions with respect to West Van's development, Jenkins said.

Three little homes coming your way

The proposal for three single-family houses to be built on the former Horseshoe Bay fire hall site got a green light on Monday.

Council voted to move forward with zoning to allow three "smaller than normal single family homes" on lots 6520 and 6540 on Marine Drive.

The houses are slated to be no taller than two storeys and the district will ask that developers follow green building guidelines.

Cleaning up

A West Vancouver homeowner in the 900-block of Sentinel Drive has been given until Sept. 18 to clean up.

On June 21, the property owner was asked to remove piles of material on the lot to ensure firefighters had safe entry in case of an emergency, Liz Holitzki, West Vancouver’s manager of permits, inspections and bylaws, told council.

The piles were moved to the perimeter of the property, but none of the material seems to have disappeared, she reported.

"It is neater than before, but there still needs work to be done," Holitzki said.

Council agreed on Sept. 18 as the deadline at which remedial action will take place if the owner doesn't get rid of some of the material.

Sloping debate

A cut slope on a single-family house development in West Vancouver poses significant risk to the residence and surrounding neighbours, says West Vancouver’s manager of permits, inspections and bylaws.

Last week a stop-work order was place on the 2558 Garden Court lot, when the district deemed the erosion on the slope made it unstable, Liz Holitzki told council.

"There's concern the slope will give way down into the property below," she said.

Council elected to give the property owner 30 days to fix the problem. If the owner ignores the request the district will take action and recover the expense from the owner.