West Vancouver BIA Passed by Council

WEST VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Dec. 17, 2015 - PRLog -- The Ambleside Dundarave Business Improvement Area has been officially passed by West Vancouver Council.  The ADBIA board, made up of business owners and landowners in Ambleside & Dundarave in West Vancouver, British Columbia, has worked hard since the beginning of the year to create this BIA.  After drafting a brochure explaining the BIA, the geographic boundaries, objectives, how funding is achieved, and a sample budget, the board was responsible for undertaking an outreach to merchants and landowners for feedback regarding the BIA initiative.

After reporting to council with the feedback results, the BIA was moved forward, subject to a 30-day period allowing landowners and merchants to vote against the BIA if they chose.  The results were overwhelmingly positive in favour of establishing a BIA in Ambleside Dundarave.

Establishing a BIA is long overdue in West Vancouver.  It has been discussed many times over the past 20 years but has never moved forward until now.  There are over 50 BIAs in British Columbia, 22 of those are in the Greater Vancouver area.  Gastown was the first municipality to establish a BIA in 1989.  Since then many thriving municipalities have set up BIAs – Robson, Granville, Mount Pleasant, Strathcona, Yaletown, West End, and Chinatown, just to name a few.

The BIA will formally begin operations in January 2016 and the board is looking very forward to getting it running.  For more information please visit:  www.adba.ca

Michelle Vaughan is a residential Realtor® with Royal Le Page Sussex Realty in Dundarave. Real estate provides her an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of her West Vancouver clients, understanding their needs across a wide spectrum. She was President of the DBA board.“I’ve always wanted to take an active role in supporting our community. I’m excited to be involved in the BIA initiative to build a strong economy in West Vancouver. I grew up here, think West Van is the most beautiful community in the world and can’t imagine living anywhere else. It can only get better.

www.michellevaughan.ca