North Shore Outlook – Onni intends to quit Lonsdale development.

Onni Group, the developer behind one of the most ambitious and publicly divisive condo plans in North Vancouver history, is expected to announce it will walk away from the lucrative Central Lonsdale project, citing “possibly defamatory” remarks made by two city councillors.

In a Dec. 3 letter obtained by The Outlook, Onni president Rossano De Cotiis told Mayor Darrell Mussatto the company intends to “publicly announce within the next 48 – 72 hours that we are withdrawing our application” for the 13th Street and Lonsdale Avenue redevelopment. De Cotiis blamed his company’s departure on comments made in council by councillors Pam Bookham and Rod Clark.

In his letter, De Cotiis said the problem “goes well beyond a simple disagreement over the issues associated with the project,” and claims the two councillors acted unfairly when they accused Onni of manipulating a public hearing at which Onni staff and supporters spoke in favour of the project.

Read more: http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/news/182046341.html

The Tri-City News – Changes in store for Moody’s core.

Port Moody’s vision for a post-Evergreen Line community includes new mixed-use neighbourhoods, walkable neighbourhoods and even high-density towers in Moody Centre.

The draft of the official community plan update, which has been in the works since shovels went in the ground for Evergreen, was presented to council’s committee of the whole on Tuesday. It pulls together information a public survey, public input session and a design charette and offers the following changes:

• Western end of Moody Centre, next to Barnet Highway: Pictured as PoMo’s western gateway, the proposed changes will bring in more commercial space to serve local residents. Increased density comes with buildings ranging from six to 12 storeys, with multi-family residential development encouraged.

Read more: http://www.tricitynews.com/news/181445481.html

North Shore Outlook – Design plans for the 1300-block of Marine Drive in West Van unveiled.

West Vancouver residents packed into district council chambers on Nov. 19 to have their say on whether a pair of buildings — one seven storeys, the other eight storeys — should be added to the 1300-block of Marine Drive.

Around 20 people, mostly seniors who live nearby, added their names to the list of speakers as overflow seating and a live-feed were set up outside the meeting room.

Many were upset about a proposed development that would take up an entire block on the south side of Marine Drive, close to the waterfront, saying the buildings would block their view, ruin the feel of the Ambleside community and cause too much traffic.

Read more: http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/news/180520711.html