In response to public concerns and feedback, the buyers of 3000 Park Lane have amended their offer to include a Statutory Right of Way (SROW) for the District of West Vancouver. This will lead to the construction of a new public trail to provide access to the waterfront earlier obstructed by the District’s property sale.
District of West Vancouver council will discuss the proposal at a meeting on Monday, October 28.
The decision followed several letters, submissions, and public comments from residents who decried the council’s decision to sell the house and block people from accessing the waterfront. Responding to those concerns, the buyers have agreed to a right-of-way that allows a replacement trail on the east side of the newly consolidated property.
In this proposal, the buyers will be responsible for designing and building the initial segment of the trail from Park Lane to a designated drop-off point. This work will be done at no cost to the District and will adhere to municipal standards, ensuring the trail is safe and accessible. The District of West Vancouver will manage and fund the final portion of the trail leading to the foreshore. A staff report to the council notes that this segment could be complex and costly to complete given the geotechnical challenges.
However, the staff supports this compromise as it opens waterfront access to the public and reduces the District’s financial burden for most of the trail construction. The staff report also notes that the funds from the sale of the property and the Road Parcel will be directed into a reserve fund, which can be used to buy other properties that provide equivalent or greater public waterfront access.
The 9,020 square feet property at 3000 Park Lane was initially listed for sale in August 2023 at $7,388,000. The adjacent Road Parcel, measuring 2,500 square feet, was included to create a larger consolidated lot of approximately 0.27 acres.
Dear Gagandeep Ghuman,
Thank you for a great article and journalistic professionalism.