Letter to the Editor of the North Shore News
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Editor
The North Shore News
100 – 126 East 15th Street
North Vancouver, BC V7L 2P9
September 16th, 2008
Dear Editor:
Many residents of West Vancouver have received by mail a survey dated July 23, 2008 which was distributed by an organization which goes by the name of the “Sentinel Hill Alliance.” The District of West Vancouver has received numerous inquiries regarding the survey, particularly with respect to the accuracy of some of the information contained in the survey and the identity of the members of the Sentinel Hill Alliance.
The District of West Vancouver is committed to open and honest communication with residents and uses various methods of community consultation in order to engage the public in a positive and productive manner. We produce written information pieces and encourage community participation through Working Groups and Committees of Council. Our website has just been redesigned to increase resident ability to access information quickly and easily. All District staff are available and welcome the opportunity to meet with residents to discuss projects, issues, and ideas. We conduct our own surveys regularly and share the results with the community.
The Sentinel Hill Alliance survey focuses on the Rodgers Creek Area Plan, the Ambleside Zoning and OCP Bylaw revisions, and the work of the Dialogue on Community Character and Housing Working Group. These projects are the result of multi-year processes, which have engaged the community in a thorough and comprehensive manner. Unfortunately, there are numerous instances in which the Sentinel Hill Alliance’s survey uses misleading and incorrect information. An independent survey disguised as a mailing from the District which contains misleading and incorrect information does little to promote the public discourse on these important community issues.
It is a goal of the District of West Vancouver to ensure correct information is accessible for our residents, so we ask that residents contact Municipal Hall directly to ensure information being distributed is accurate. Furthermore, I invite all residents to become involved in a dialogue through our community engagement process.
Residents may contact me directly if they have questions or comments with regard to Community Planning services provided by the District of West Vancouver.
Bob Sokol
Director of Planning, Lands and Permits
District of West Vancouver
bsokol@westvancouver.ca
604-925-7055