Monday, May 4, 7 – 10 PM: Provincial Candidates’ Meeting, St. Philip’s Church, 3737 W. 27th

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet your Green, Liberal and NDP candidates and hear what they have to say about the issues that are important to you. Also hear about the STV voting system and participate in an STV demo. For more information, including meeting agenda, see the Candidates Meeting Announcement.

Wednesday, May 13, 7 – 9 PM: Public Forum on Laneway Housing & Related Zoning Issues, Dunbar Community Centre, Dunbar Room

The City Planning Department is proposing zoning changes that would allow laneway housing and an increase in the FSR for single family homes to permit more basement suites. These changes will have an impact on the Dunbar neighbourhood.

Please bring your questions and comments and hear presentations on the proposed zoning changes that will be considered by Council at a Public Hearing this summer.

Recently, on the Dunbar Neighbours Mailing List, there have been a number of messages relating to panhandlers in the Dunbar area.

These messages have caused concern in several respects:

1. A suggestion that 911 be called to report panhandlers was based on advice given to the Dunbar Community Patrol by a police constable. Such advice was erroneous and has been corrected.
2. Two messages referred to panhandlers in terms that were callous and disturbing. The Mailing List is maintained to facilitate communication among residents, not to fracture the community through the use of language that shows a profound lack of respect for others.
3. The CBC wrongly attributed one of the remarks referred to above to the DRA, a mistake that is the subject of a complaint to the CBC Ombudsman.  Moreover, a press release was issued by the DRA on April 24, 2009 as follows:

The Dunbar Residents’ Association has been distressed by a CBC report suggesting that it or its directors have made a callous and arrogant remark regarding panhandlers. The remark was made on an unmoderated listserve that is maintained for the benefit of the community and facilitates the exchange of information on matters of interest to the community. Anyone can join and, despite a request that postings be respectful of others, there are occasionally comments that are not. Such comments certainly do not reflect the views of the Association nor any of its directors, any more than comments made on the CBC website are reflective of the views of that organization.

Thank you to everyone who submitted photographs to the DRA’s first ever photo contest: My Favourite Dunbar Day.

Special thanks to the generous Dunbar Street businesses — Splash Toys, the Dunbar Theatre and Handi Restaurant — who donated the prizes for this contest.

1st Prize: Dunbar Memorial Park – A Winter Scene

Haydn Kennard receives 2 movie passes to the Dunbar Theatre and a gift certificate for dinner at Handi Restaurant.

2nd Prize: Beautiful Dunbar in Autumn

Tor Virding receives 2 movie passes to the Dunbar Theatre.

The children’s photo prize goes to ErinRose Handy for capturing one of the “numerous delightful, inexpensive aspects of our neighborhood that make it a pleasure to live here.”

ErinRose receives a $50 gift certificate to Splash Toys.

Shop on Dunbar Street and see the winning photos in the display windows of Splash Toys, the Dunbar Theatre and Handi Restaurant.

Here is the AGENDA for the April 16 meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for the Dunbar Apartments, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Dunbar Community Centre.

These are the issues that affect Dunbar in large and small ways. These items will be general descriptions plus lists of reference materials. Because a link is provided, this does not mean that the DRA supports any of the views expoused.

If you wish to discuss an item, subscribe and use the Dunbar Neighbours Mailing List.

Ongoing Issues

• Civic ElectionZoning and Development
  • EcoDensity
  • 41st and Balaclava development
  • 16th and Dunbar development
  • Orphan Lots
  • Board of Variance – Third Party Appeals

  Transportation and Traffic (visit City of Vancouver Transportation website for the latest information)

  • Ridgeway West Greenway Extension
  • 2007 City Bicycle Plan Update

  Vandalism

  • Damage to our parks by drivers
  • Graffiti

  Coyotes (These Coyote sites have nothing to do with the DRA but are provided for information purposes for our readers.)

  • Vancouver City’s Coyote Alert Page.
  • Some Dunbar residents,  joining with others in the city, have become concerned about the presence of coyotes in the neighbourhood.  Worried about the impact, they have created a website that presents their views on coyote management, to be found at www.scatcoyote.org. Dunbar contact is Don Marquardt, reached through the contact information provided on the site.
  • Co-Existing With Coyotes by The Stanley Park Ecological Society.

  Settled Issues

  Vancouver School Board

  • Proposed closure of Queen Elizabeth Annex and related issues

  Pacific Spirit Park/University Golf Course
  

  • Friends of Pacific Spirit Park
  • University Golf Course versus Pacific Spirit Park
  • Pacific Spirit Park Society opposes exchange of parkland for University Golf Course in Musqueam settlement

  Co-Existing With CoyotesCo-Existing With Coyotes

As of today the pamphlets with the list of gardens that will be open for the tours on May 3rd and on May 30th respectively are now available at the following locations:

Blight’s Home Hardware (3322 Dunbar St)
Heaven and Earth Flowers (4495 Dunbar St)
Pacific Spirits Wine Cellar (4474 Dunbar St)
Sweet Williams (4895 McKenzie St)
Weigh to Go Bulk Foods  (3534 W 41st Ave)
Natural Gardener  (4376 W 10th Ave)
Southlands Nursery (6550 Balaclava St).

Hope to see you on one of the tours!

As part of the Dunbar Apartments Supportive Housing Development at Dunbar & 16th, a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will be established.The Dunbar CAC will be maintained as a forum to freely exchange information, discuss issues and work towards constructive outcomes. 

The CAC will include 12 interested citizen volunteers from the neighbourhood who will work with Coast Mental Health and its partners to assure the success of the housing program. This advisory group willl meet quarterly and fulfill its purpose by being solution–focused and responsive to community concerns. For more information on the this group, see the Dunbar CAC Terms of Reference.

Funding has been approved by the Province to proceed with the Dunbar Apartments development and the first Community Advisory Committee meeting will be held:

• Thursday April 16, 2009 , 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Dunbar Community Centre, 4747 Dunbar Street.

 An agenda for the meeting will be available closer to the date. 

There are 12 seats on the CAC for community representation with priority given to the immediate neighbourhood.Three representatives plus 1 alternate from each of the following 4 categories will be selected (please review Terms of Reference for more information on the selection process): 

• Local Businesses (BIA)
• Schools & PACs
• Local Neighbourhood Associations (DRA, DVIC, Point Grey (once established), DCC)
• Local Neighbours (BlockWatch)