West Vancouver Real Estate: Parkview Place, Horseshoe Bay Galleries, Seascapes, Bowen Island Evegreen Ridge Home Sites, Ambleside Re-Zoning, Rodgers

Gallleries on the Bay West Vancouver Condos – Major Price Reductions!

At Galleries on the Bay, take advantage of the major price reductions now on selected units. Galleries on the Bay is a new West Vancouver condo development with the utmost in luxury and convenience within the beautiful Horseshoe Bay community. Water and mountain views from all rooms, plus cathedral ceilings and cove moldings give you a very spacious feeling in every room. You will have year round comfort with air conditioning, in floor radiant heating and a fireplace here at the new West Vancouver condos for sale at the Horseshoe Bay Galleries on the Bay development. Top quality finishes include engineered hardwood flooring (maple), designer series Toto bathroom fixtures, and LG steam washer and dryer. Entertaining is a pleasure in the gourmet kitchen with Professional Serices Viking appliances complete with a large wine cooler and reverse osmosis water purifier here at the presale West Vancouver condos at the Galleries on the Bay real estate development. Also, enjoy a huge outdoor terrace with natural gas outlet for those summer barbeques or winter heat lamps. The quaint village of Horseshoe Bay is now home to the new West Vancouver Galleries on the Bay development and features restaurants, boating, golf, skiing at your doorstep. Yet, the express bus puts you in downtown Vancouver in mere minutes. Westcoast lifestyle at its best is now available here at the Galleries on the Bay West Vancouver condos for sale. The major price reductions includes one bedroom Horseshow Bay condos from $425,000 and two bedroom suites from $899,000. The Galleries on the Bay West Vancouver condo presentation centre is now open weekends from 12-4pm. Life is about experiencing each moment with an adventure of senses. The major price reductions on these spectacular and luxury West Vancouver homes for sale are now here. 1 and 2 bedroom apartments from $425k which includes GST! Located at Royal aVenue and Bay Street in Horseshoe Bay West Vancouver real estate district, visit galleriesonthebay.com for any additional resources and information.

Parkview Place West Vancouver Townhomes

Conveniently located at 1891 Marine Drive and half way between the West Vancouver real estate villages of Ambleside and Dundarave, Parkview Place pre-construction West Vancouver condo townhomes is an exclusive collection of just 10 garden homes all very private and ranging from 788 to 1396 square feet. Features at the Parkview Place West Vancouver condos include stone counters, SubZero and Miele appliances, in-floor radiant heat in ensuites, and central vacuum. Located just steps from restaurants, shops, services and the West Van seawall, this is a rare real estate opportunity to purchase a brand new concrete townhome in one of the Lower Mainland’s most prestigious neighbourhoods. Prices for the pre-construction West Vancouver townhomes at Parkview Place condominium residences are expected to be announced this fall. For more information and to be on the priority list for all future updates, please visit www.liveparkview.com. Conveniently located between both Ambleside and Dundarave and just a couple blocks from the beautiful seawall and water, the West Vancouver Parkview Place condominium style townhomes will be close to a great array of local amenities that this wonderful community is so well known for. Featuring only 10 new pre-construction West Vancouver townhomes at 1891 Marine Drive, West Van, the Parkview Place pre-sales condos will be built by Linda Burger real estate developers who have designed the most spectacular and detail oriented homes in all of West Vancouver. With superior craftsmanship, these private, garden residences at Parkview Place will be close to everything you need to see and do. The ten distinctive residences at the pre-construction new West Vancouver condo townhomes include Residence 1 (3 bed plus den) at 1,396 sq ft, Residences 2 - 4 (2 bedroom suites at 1,019, 1,021 and 1,026 square feet respectively), Residence 5 (2 br + den + solarium) at 1325 sqft, Residence 6 – 8 (2 br plus rooftop deck (1,166, 1,170 and 1,179 sq footage), Residence 9 (1 bedroom plus den) 1,061 sq ft and Residence 10 which is the smallest at 788 square feet. You can visit http://www.liveparkview.com/residences.html for all teh detailed floor plans at Parkview Place condominiums in West Vancouver real estate market.

West Vancouver Parkview Place Condominiums Update - July 2009
A perfect 10, combining luxury, location and lifestyle at the pre-sale West Vancouver condos at Parkview Place. With only ten distinctive residences, the Parkview Place West Van condos are now previewing by Lynda and Ray at 604.644.4623 or visit liveparkview.com. From their latest email push: Just a quick update on what is happening with Parkview Place. There has been a great response to our initial email and we are working as fast as we can to get the pricing of the units out to those who have inquired. Unfortunately we cannot disclose any pre-construction West Vancouver condo prices at Parkview Place condominiums until the lawyers have fully completed the disclosure statement. They have told us that this should be done by Monday and we will respond to those you have requested pricing. To the many of you who have asked when can you actually purchase a unit at the pre-construction West Vancouver Parkview Place condos, a soon as we have the disclosure statement we are in the position to write contracts.

The Ten Distinct Residences of Parkview Place West Vancouver condo apartments are now being offered and occupancy is commencing Fall of 2009. Located at 1891 Marine Drive, West Vancouver real estate market, the luxury residences at Parkview Place are built by Linda Burger and Associates who have an outstanding reputation for quality and client satisfaction. Assuring each condominium home purchaser at the Parkview Place West Vancouver property development with impeccable design and quality, the boutique homes for sale are located in the heart of West Van, close to everything. You will agree that these beautiful Parkview Place residences are a ‘perfect 10’. Presented by Lynda and Ray at 604.644.4623 and designed by Karl Gustavson of Design Marque, please visit proc.ca for addition information about this West Vancouver condo development now launching.

The West Van Parkview Place Condo Features

Some of the impressive features include stunning architecture by Karl Gustavson, floor space with natural lighting, concrete construction, aluminum bronzed windows, landscaped gardens with a great water feature and secure underground parking for all Parkview Place West Vancouver condo suites. The interiors of the pre-construction townhomes at Parkview Place West Van will also provide front loading Bosch washer and dryer, architectural detailing including mouldings and baseboards, screen-weave Solar Blinds, solid core doors, gas fireplaces, wool blended carpets, custom hardwood flooring and floor to ceiling windows. The gourmet kitchens at the West Van Parkview Place townhomes will have custom built wood cabinets, stone counters, porcelain backsplashes, under cabinet lighting throughout, recessed lighing, very high end appliance package, and extra deep double sinks. The ensuites bathrooms will have imported porcelain floors, one piece dual flush Kohler toilets, custom built wood cabinets, stone counters, frameless glass shower, soaker bathrub with Grohe fixtures, wdesigner selected wall sconces and recessed lighting and in floor radiant heating. The security and technology at these new West Vancouver condo homes at Parkview Place will have the 2/5/10 year National Home Warranty in addition to storage areas, monitored fire sprinkler systems, pre-wiring for internet, cable and phone lines, personally encoded entry device permits access to building lobby and underground parking, secure parking, enterphone, central vacuum system and security system. The West Vancouver real estate developer for the Parkview Place townhomes will be Linda Burger and Associates of West Van.

Parkview Place Marine Drive West Vancouver Homes

Dear Parkview Place Enthusiasts, Thank you for registering for our exclusive mailing list for updates about the West Vancouver Parkview Place luxury condo homes and distinctive residences along Marine Drive on the North Shore. We will be updating you on a regular basis as to our progress with this pre-construction West Vancouver real estate condo development. We are roofed and well on scheduled for our summer of 2009 opening. If you haven’t visit our website recently, we encourage you to do so as we now have detailed Parkview Place condo residence floor plans for each of the ten luxury pre-sale West Vancouver homes. We hope you have a wonderful summer and look forward to meeting and serving you in person soon at the presales West Vancouver Parkview Place residence condominium homes on Marine Drive North Shore. Linda Burger – Parkview Place. www.liveparkview.com.

A similar luxury townhouse development is marketing for presale at The West of Central Lonsdale townhomes in North Vancouver real estate market.

Horseshoe Bay Homes Close to Perfect

A community snapshot of Horeshoe Bay real estate in West Vancouver. Like a world unto itself, Horseshoe Bay has an almost mystical charm most people find impossible to resist. Quaint boutiques, funky eateries, and “you never know what treasure you’ll find” galleries are the order of the day here. And though the waterfront real estate promenade at Horseshoe Bay isn’t as long as some, it is an undeniably beautiful one. Purchasing a new home in Horseshoe Bay rela estate is challenging, as supply is limited and most people who live here, simply don’t move homes. Surprisingly, however, at press time, all six of the houses and one duplex listed cam e inwith a price tage of less than $1 million making this a good value if you can get one. But the big news in the Horsehoe Bay real estate community is Galleries on the Bay, a $17 million collection of 16 condominium homes and the first of its kind ever in Horseshoe Bay. Previously, only a small set of old fashioned apartments above the grocer and two suites built above retail in 1986 comprised the entire strata home stock. This is the Horseshoe Bay Village’s only true multi-family real estate development and with its ground floor reteail, the first new commercial development here in three decades. As West Vancouver’s Mayor Pamela Groldsmith-Jones cut the ribbon at Galleries on the Bay official opening ceremony June 13, the structure was already being hailed as a landmark building that will change the face of real estate in Horseshoe Bay. Conspicuously absent was any dissent – the project was greeted by unanimous enthusiasm, thanks, in large part, to an architectural style that combines the sweeping West Coast look with a sophisticated, contemporary sleekness and warm earthtones. Inside, each Horseshoe Bay Galleries on the Bay condo home is a unique with a character an personality of its own. Floor plans range from 707 to 1,505 square feet and are meticulously placed to maximize the spectacular ocean and mountain views from each of the many private terraces and solariums. Finishing details at the Galleries on the Bay at Horseshoe Bay are extravagant yet maintain an elegance that’s clearly turning heads. “When you find a site like this, you have to be responsibilitiy to create something special,” said real estate developer Ali Amedi from Primex Developments. “Visitors from abroad as well as local people will be watching Galleries ont eh Bay. It was important for us to maintain an attention to detail that would be outstanding.” Pricing at the Galleries on the Bay in the Horseshoe Bay real estate market are attractive and competitive. One bedrooms from $558,000, two bedrooms with unobstructed ocean views from $1.1 million, plus a few select live/work suites from $498,000 to $640,000. For more information, please visit www.galleriesonthebay.com. Written by S. Boyce for 24 Hours.

UPDATE: Galleries on the Bay West Vancouver Waterfront Condominiums

An elegantly designed, 16 home development at 6688 Royal Avenue in the heart of Horseshoe Bay real estate, Galleries on the Bay West Vancouver condos offers a rare property opportunity of home ownership in one of Greater Vancouver’s most desired seaside settings. Floor plans at these new pre-construction West Vancouver condos range from 707 to 1,505 square feet and no two are the same. Available in one, two and three bedroom configurations, each home at Galleries on the Bay apartments boasts spectacular views, terraces, and solariums, radiant in floor heating, air conditioning, and front loading steam washer and dryer. Gourmet kitchens at these new West Vancouver Galleries on the Bay condos are equipped with Professional Viking stainless steel appliances including gas stoves with convection oven French doors, refridgerators with bottom mount freezers, wine fridges, and water purifiers. Four ground floor live/work spaces rub sholders with Starbucks and a First Nations Art Gallery, the first commercial addition to the Horseshoe Bay village in 30 years. The Galleries on the Bay’s presentation centre and display homes are open Tuesday to Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit www.galleriesonthebay.com.

The Watermark Amica at West Vancouver Real Estate

A grand apartment reminiscent of exclusive Manhattan grandeur, this Watermark Amica West Vancouver home offers you expansive living with extraordinary finishings and classic but modern styling. A perfect home at the Amica Watermark West Vancouver real estate property for entertaining with an open living plan, generous windows and over height ceilings. Nestled into the landscape, Watermark properties capitalizes on it’s natural environment providing picturesque views and privacy. AS part of a larger community plan, the Clyde Avenue property blends seamlessly into its surroundings in West Vancouver. As part of your homes livability you have exclusive access to Amica’s Wellness and Vitality West Vancouver services located in the neighbouring real estate property development. From fine dining to the Amica Club facilities, no other condominium can offer the level of service that The Watermark West Vancouver does. Contact Grant Connell for more information about this fabulous offer at the Amica West Vancouver Watermark condos at 604.250.5183 or visit www.grantconnell.com.

Final Release of Homes at Seascapes West Vancouver Real Estate

Designed for the most discerning tastes, every one of these spacious West Vancouver townhomes enjoys a spectacular view of Howe Sound. Inside Seascapes townhomes, natural materials such as granite, ledgestone, hardwood and more, reflect the majestic West Coast setting of this prime West Vancouver real estate deveolopment perched up on a hilltop. You’ll understand why our windows have frames. Move in now to West Vancouver Seascapes townhomes as GST is included for the next five sales. Seascapes West Vancouver townhomes with views start from $899,900 to $999,900 and range from 2,250 to 2,350 square feet with a 300 square foot additional storage space. Final release of remaining Seascapes West Vancouver townhome units is on now so visit the Seascapes show home that is open 12 to 5pm on weekends or by appointment at 8670 Seascapes Drive in West Vancouver. Call Arthur at 604.727.5478 or visit www.seascapestownhomes.ca for additional information about this last Seascapes townhomes opportunity for purchase. More about the West Vancouver Seascapes Townhomes is available here.

Seascapes Community
The best way to see Howe Sound? Just open your blinds says the new advertisement for the pre-construction West Vancouver Seascapes residences. Each presale home at Seascapes West Van real estate offers a breathtaking view of Howe Sound. See the best of the West Coast comfort of your bedroom, living room and kitchen. Just a quick five minutes north of West Vancouver’s prestigious Caufield Village, Seascapes real estate development overlooks the deep, blue Pacific and is enveloped by mature coniferous trees and green spaces. Inside these pre-construction Seascapes Homes, home buyers will find spacious two thousand, three hundred and fifty square foot family or couple sized residences with bright open spaces and floor plans. In addition, the West Vancouver Seascapes pre-construction condo homes will have finishes of natural materials that have been incoporated in every room including such luxurious finishes as hardwood, granite, ledgestone and many other textural and beautiful detailing from the surrounding environment. Right now, the best part is that the presale Homes at Seascape West Vancouver start from just $829,900 and this is definitely an uncommon value in West Van property market that you’ll never find again. So don’t miss out on this great pre-construction new West Vancouver property development at Seascapes Community where you can now purchase a presale West Van view townhome between the pre-construction pricing of $829,900 and $979,900. The Seascapes Townhomes Show Home is now open noon to five on weekends or you can also book a private appointment by calling Arthur at 604.727.5478. The project marketing for the Seascapes Townhomes is by The agency Real Estate Marketing. You can also visit their show home for the pre-sales West Vancouver Seascapes Townhomes which is located on site in West Vancouver on Seascapes Drive.

The Ridge at Evergreen Simply Bowen Island Homes

A place where nature is revered. A polace where homes are crafted. A place where life is balanced. The Ridge at Evergreen on Bowen Island real estate involves a conscious decision to slow down, to simplify, to revel in nature and live lightly within it. The Ridge at Evergreen Bowen Island property. Meander through the rich coastal forest and emerge at The Ridge at Evergreen where time stands still. This is a once in a lifetime Bowen Island real estate opportunity to create your Ridge at Evergreen Bowen home on one of four available lots. The Ridge at Evergreen lots on Bowen Island real estate start from just $525,000. Contact information. Call today to preview The ridge at Evergreen lots and home sites available by Penny at Sutton Centre Realty, Bowen Island at 435 Bowen Island Trunk Road. Call 604.803.4400 or email penny@bccoastalliving.com for additional details. The marketing web site for this Bowen Island property development at Evergreen Homes is located online at www.evergreenbowen.com.

From the Ridge Evergreen Homes Web Site

A project, a place, a sanctuary, a getaway, a resort, a quiet relaxing holiday. This is what Bowen Island BC is all about. With many great recreational opportunities and a very close location to West Vancouver, Bowen Island real estate has boomed in recent times due to its picturesque locales, sites, people and close proximity to the mainland via the BC Ferries service. If you are looking for a premier BC waterfront home or site lot to build your dream home, the Ridge at Evergreen Bowen Island waterfront real estate will be your ideal homesite. Get close to nature yet be just a ferry ride away from prestigious West Vancouver. At evergreen on Bowen Island real estate, this will be a quiet neighbourhood of smaller homes where sustainable living and building practises will be met, where forests will be left untouched and modern technologies will connect you to the world outside. Family and nature, waterfront Bowen Island real estate and impressive views, these are the pre-construction Evergreen Homes on Bowen Island. Views of the ocean and the adjacent beautiful BC islands will be seen from a release of only four pre-sales Evergreen Lots on Bowen Island, soon to be launched in 2008. A natural environment that will see the creation of a total of only twenty three home sites along this coastal bluff on Bowen Island real estate, the Evergreen family home lots are a sanctuary for some of the most amazing native bird species, other evergreens and plants. This family of home sites on Bowen Island will be a unique property development where you can only access it through a meandering single lane former logging trail, which will ensure your privacy and a quiet neighbourhood. The Ridge at Evergreen Bowen Island real estate will be the first phase of the Evergreen home sites and will launch a total of 15 homesites that range between 1 and 1.2 acres in size. The Evergreen Ridge home sites marketing has just launched. The homesites on Bowen Island property will face the Paisley and Keats Islands as well as Bowen Bay Beach, Arbutus Point and of course the water. The presale Ridge home sites at Evergreen will also be nestled within 40 acres of natural environment which will be protected aggressively to minimize the environmental impact of this development. The vision for the Ridge at Evergreen homesites was envisioned back in 2004. With timeless craftsmanship and west coast architecture, the family style homes visioned for the Evergreen lots are going to have minimal impact on the environment. Evergree Simply Bowen will have a lasting value for generations to come. The Bowen Island lifestyle is simply slower, more relaxed and definitely rejuvenating. The Simply Bowen Island Evergreen Ridge homesites will provide a sanctuary for homebuyers to esacpe and getaway from the big city frustrations, noise and traffic. The benefits of the smaller home restrictions on the Bowen Island real estate homesites at Evergreen Ridge will ensure that everyone has a chance to enjoy the natural surroundings. With leading edge sustainable building guidelines, homes at the Ridge at Evergreen on Bowen will offer lower utility costs, improved air quality and less reliance on fossil fuels through time.

The Team and Contact Information for the Ridge at Evergreen

For more information about the Evergreen Home Sites on Bowen Island real estate, please visit their web site at www.evergreenbowen.com. The property development team consists of Malkin Creek Holdings developer, Estudio NORTE | SUR for sustainable development consultation, Studio 947 for graphic design and marketing, E.A.B. Beaird Consulting through community planning in addition to Claudia Schaefer photography and Cosmic Idea web design. For sales information about the pre-construction Bowen Island home sites at the Ridge at Evergreen Phase 1 release, please contact Penny of Sutton Centre Realty at penny@bccoastalliving.com, or by phone at 604.803.4400 or 604.947.2725. The location of the home sites for the Evergreen Bowen property is located at 435 Bowen Island Trunk Road. Note: The foregoing is published for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute an offer to sell any of the proposed lots or to solicit offers to purchase the proposed lots. The Developer will only market the proposed lots once a Disclosure Statement has been filed with the Superintendent of Real Estate pursuant to the Real Estate Development Marketing Act of British Columbia. For a Bowen Island community map, please refer to this web page at http://www.evergreenbowen.com/community.html.

West Vancouver Ambleside Re-Zoning Hearing Will Reconvene

According to the July 2008 newspaper, The North Shore News and written by Manisha K, Plans for the rejuvenation of West Vancouver’s Ambleside town centre were met with a mixture of enthusiasm and anxiety at Monday night’s public hearing. Residents of Ambleside West Vancouver real estate packed the municipal hall to express their opinions on new official community plan and zoning bylaws for Ambleside district between 13th Street and 19th Street along Marine Drive. While most applauded the West Vancouver district’s effort to breathe life into Ambleside, by creating a more concentrated commercial core, concerns were raised on issues of height, density and parking. Rezoning Ambleside in West Vancouver real estate of the area into mixed residential and retail spaces will allow for mainly two to three storey buildings, with the possibility of four storeys on sites that meet width and depth requirements. However three “special sites” on the 1300-, 1400- and 1600- blocks of Marine Drive in Ambleside real estate market were left out of the new zoning regulations, alarming some residents who feel larger West Vancouver real estate developments should not be open for consideration. Mike MacCallum, of Wedgewood Terrace on the 1700- block of Duches Avenue, said tenants of his Ambleside building feel their view will be ruined if high structures are permitted on the Safeway site. “The two to four storey plan should be across the board,” said MacCallum, adding he was dismayed that the OCP plan allows consideration of a five storey building on the Masonic Hall site. His sentiments were shared by a group of residents from the Memorial Park enclave, along Duchess Avenue, and 18th Street. They were in favour of most the plan, but recommended the district amend zoning regulations on the 1800- block of Marine Drive in Ambleside real estate community to protect single family homes. “The main indoor living areas, decks and gardens will lose the privacy and light that they currently enjoy should present zoning proposals be enacted,” said resident Carl Hunter. District guidelines allow for slightly different zoning for the east and west entrances to Ambleside West Vancouver real estate market – developments there have the potential to be fully residential, in order to centralize businesses. But the 1300- block of Marine Drive West Vancouver has less to lose by tall buildings because there are no single family homes on it, said Hunter. He and fellow neighbours suggested Ambleside buildings should have a maximum of three storeys on Marine and 18th and two storeys along the lane north of it.

The Rezoning of Ambleside is a Business Owners Dream

West Vancouver business owners were eager to see the changes to be implemented in the re-zoning of the Ambleside corridor. “It’s been too long coming… Ambleside needs help, it’s decaying,” said Duncan Pearce, owner of the Urban Garage on Clyde and 14th Street, who added the revitalization will be good for the community now, as well as future residents of West Vancouver. His only qualm is the community amenities contributions, required for all Ambleside real estate developments. These might not be a big deal for a large real estate West Vancouver developer, but for a small business, “it may make the difference between renewal and status quo,” said Pearce. A real estate developer at Ambleside West Vancouver property market would have to pay $15 per square foot for a project with a floor area ratio of 1.0 to 1.4 and $50 per square foot for a floor area ratio between 1.4 and the maximum 1.75, according to the proposed Ambleside bylaw. The West Vancouver district defines amenities as services and works that will improve the community, including arts and cultural facilities, parks and child care facilities. Improved Ambleside West Vancouver street design and public parking area slo called for in the community plan, but several neighbours expressed distress about the influx of cars that will inevitably be brought on by redevelopment of Ambleside real estate. Council echoed many of the residents’ concerns during discussion. The real estate West Van project shouldn’t move forward unless previously recommended parking improvements are implemented, said Coun Vivian Vaughan in reference to a study done by Bunt & Associates in 2005. “It’s not happening and we haven’t got he money set aside to do it,” she said. West Vancouver Council voted unanimously to reconvene the public hearing for the re-zoning of Ambleside community along Marine Drive upon receipt of a new staff report addressing the issues raised, with the exception of Coun John Clark who was absent due to a potential conflict of interest. The outcome left some Ambleside residents frustrated. “Quit waffling,” said resident Chuck Walter, who told council he’s been waiting 15 years to see changes take place in Ambleside West Vancouver real estate. “We’re kind of the laughing stock of the Lower Mainland… we have to get on with it.”

West Vancouver City Council Passes Ambleside Redevelopment Bylaws

A great article by Manisha for the North Shore Newspaper in July 2008. Stakeholders eager to see the revitalization of Ambleside real estate district cam eone step closer on Monday when District of West Vancouver Council passed third reading of redevelopment bylaws for the town centre. The approval came after a reconvened public hearing that heard district planning staff responding to concerns raised by residents on July 14th. Staff made no major changes to the official community plan or the corresponding zoning bylaw, but two minor amendments were added to require greater setbacks on new buildings in the West Vancouver Ambleside real estate corridor which were added to require greater setbakcs on new buildings in the 1800 block of Marine Drive and make provisions for the removal of overhead wires along the railway. At the July 14 meeting, residents along the 1800 block of Duchess Avenue expressed concerns that three and four storey buildings on 18th Street and Marine Drive would impact their views, privacy and light. They asked staff to consider restricting the buildings’ height to three storey’s off Marine and two storey’s off the north lane, and increase setbacks from the lane side to be 10 feet at the first storey and 20 feet at the second storey in this Ambleside residential bylaw of West Vancouver real estate. The request for greater setbacks was reasonable, according to the West Vancouver District urban design planner Colette Parsons. But allowance of third and fourth storey’s could actually help residents maintain strategic views, because West Vancouver real estate developers will have the opportunity to create slimmer, more attractive buildings, rather than box-like structures that fill the east-west lot lines, said Parsons.

Linda Sherwood, a resident of the West Vancouver Ambleside real estate district, said she’s pleased the district modified zoning bylaws to allow for new setbacks, but asked for a delay in moving forward until her out of town neighbours have a chance to respond. The OCP was also slightly amended, due to a call for under grounding the overhead wires south of Bellevue Avenue, suggested to West Vancouver Real Estate Council on July 14. Such a project would cost around $750,000 according to Parsons. It was added for consideration as part of the community Ambleside real estate benefits package for developents along Bellevue Avenue. Staff also addressed other issues of contention in Ambleside reale state bylaws such as height and three special sites on the 1300, 1400 and 1600 blocks of Marine Drive, which were left out of the zoning bylaw. Four storey’s will only be permitted on sites that meet specific criteria; they must have 120 feet of frontage, an area of at least 14,400 square feet and a grade change of eight feet from the front to the rear, according to the new Ambleside community real estate bylaws of West Vancouver District. Currenly, only one location in ambleside, West Van Florist – fits this description, said Bob Sokol, director of planning, lands and permits.

The height flexibility is intended to promote esthetically pleasing structures, added Parsons. The OCP specifies a fourth storey building would only be permitted if the West Vancouver real estate developer in Ambleside property could show it has a superior design. “We’re looking for great buildings in Ambleside. We want beautiful buildings that are going to last,” she said. Clarification with respect to the three special sites was also given. These were left out of the rezoning bylaw of the District of west Vancouver Ambleside community because they are located in strategic areas, at the gateway to the community, near John Lawson Park and between two commercially fronted streets. Each is at least 60,000 square feet in size and all are under limited ownership, according to Parson’s report. Leaving them out of new West Vancouver zoning regulations will allow innovative design ideas to come forward at a later date, with the possibility of securing of public amenities like parking or anew museum.

For the moment, what happens on those West Van Ambleside sites will be dictated by their current commercial zoning, said Sokol. During the hearing, a few residents expressed disappointment at what they described as too moderate a plan. Four storey buildings Ambleside should be a minimum, said Rob Harrington, resident and owner of West Van Florist. “It’s time West Vancouverites looked out for their insular enclaves and joined the rest of the world. Urban sprawl is out, sustainability is in,”he said. “any change resulting in down-zoning in unacceptable and will be vehemently opposed.” Elaine Fonseca, president of the Ambleside and Dundarave Ratepayers’ Association, took the opposite view from this West Vancouver Council decision. “I heard the phrase ‘We must change, we must grow.’ Says who?” she asked. “Ambleside is not dead, it’s a little sleepy.. and maybe that’s the way we want it.” West Vancouver real estate Council passed second and third readings of both bylaws by a vote of 4-2 with Couns Bill Soprovich and Vivian Vaughan in opposition, due to reservations about height and parking respectively.

The West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Director’s Report

West Vancouver Council planning well for sustainable prosperity. As an organization dedicated to promoting, enhancing and facilitating business in our community, the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce welcomes two recent decisions by Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones and West Vancouver Council that will over time promote considerable new real estate investment, employment and business opportunities for West Vancouver. Ambleside Town Centre Real Estate Strategy: On July 28, 2008, West Vancouver Council amended the Official Community Plan and approved new zoning bylaws that will encourage owners of smaller properties in Ambleside to upgrade and improve the attractiveness of their streetfront and tenant mix. Similarly, new planning real estate guidelines for larger Ambleside properties should trigger several major West Vancouver property redevelopments as new and important focal points for the community. This new plan promises a Vision for Ambleside redevelopment as a fully functioning and sustainable community asset – offering a broader selection of goods and services, pedestrian friendly links between Marine Drive, Clyde and Bellevue, additional foot traffic from new residents and office workers, and a multifaceted precinct that gives West Vancouver visitors a variety of experiences over the course of an afternoon. Rodgers Creek Area Real Estate Development Plan. On the same evening, West Vancouver Council als passed third reading bylaws for long term real estate development of 736 mainly multi-family homes over 215 acres of land above the Upper Levels Highway at Rodgers Creek West Vancouver development. Unlike earlier sections of Upper Lands West Vancouver development ,more than 50 per cent of the area will remain green open space, with real estate development of Rodgers Creek clustered in nodes along a new community mountain pathway. The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors particularly commends the Rodgers Creek development plan commitment to a future Cypress Village to the west of the first loop on the Cypress Bowl Road. This will make the Upper Lands West Vancouver Rodgers Creek development a much more complete community while offering many new business opportunities for everything from seniors’ housing to professional offices. By Andrew Pottinger, Director of the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.