Land Use in the District of North Vancouver Essay -- Canada Environmen

Introduction Land use in the district of North Vancouver has been a very sensitive issue for many years. In this area, population growth has been substantial, especially because of the area's popular outdoor recreation opportunities. It is this relationship between population pressure and outdoor 'green zones'1 that is at the heart of the conflict in North Vancouver district. Residents are very passionate about, and emotionally attached to, the natural mountainous surroundings. Thus, when development plans were slated for Mountain Forest and Cove Forest, residents did not want development to take place in 'their forests.' The critical question is, how to incorporate influxes of people into a limited amount of urban area while keeping current residents satisfied? Stake Holders The conflict in the North Vancouver district is over the resource of land and how to use it. There are many stake holders involved in this conflict. The district owns the Mountain Forest and Cove Forest areas, and wanted to develop the areas in response to projected increases in future populations, taken from the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) reports. The individual residents of the district are also stake holders. As taxpaying members of the municipality they indirectly own the land. They are also stake holders from the point of view of citizens who live near the proposed development sites and use the forests for its recreation and aesthetic values. Other stake holders include the Lower Mainland residents; many of these people use the North Shore Mountains, and in particular Mountain and Cove Forests, for their outdoor recreation activities. If the land was to be developed they too would be affected.2 Definition of the Problem The... ...uld be informed on a continual basis as to what is happening in the development of their community. Communication is the key to having a fully functional, and well rounded community, that will be able to deal with the pressures of increased development in the Lower Mainland. Works Cited Greater Vancouver Regional District. Strategic Planning Division. Livable Region Strategic Plan. April, 1996: 2. Morton, Brian. "Anti-developers ask North Van council to save Seymour, Deep Cove forests." Vancouver Sun 6 June 1995: A2. ---. "Council convinced to save forests." Vancouver Sun 7 June 1995: B5. ---. "Residents fight to save pair of forests." Vancouver Sun 5 June 1995: B1. Smith, Desmond. "Local Area Conservation: How One Suburban Municipality Utilizes Environmental Planning to Conserve its Natural Heritage." Plan Canada September 1989. vol. 29: 39-42.