West Vancouver Council plans to limit nail salons and financial services in Ambleside and Dundarave.
At a meeting on December 13, the Council directed district staff to amend zoning bylaw so financial services and nail salons don’t occupy more than 20% of each block in the Ambleside and Dundarave business areas.
If the District receives applications that conflict with the proposed bylaw, the Council will consider withholding building permits and business licences.
Over time, there has been an increase in nail salons, financial institutions and services, and real estate offices in the Ambleside and Dundarave area, typically located in sidewalk-level commercial spaces.
The community has raised concerns about this, which were highlighted in the ‘Imagine Ambleside’ survey that was conducted in 2020 by the Ambleside and Dundarave Business Improvement Association (ADBIA).
The survey was presented to the Council in 2021. Survey respondents indicated concerns about the number of real estate offices, nail salons and currency exchanges in both areas. Locals also expressed a desire for more diverse and lively business mix, including more restaurants, patios and boutique retail.
The Council has directed staff that the building permits and business licence applications that conflict with the amendments should be brought to the Council’s attention as soon as possible.
However, this would not impact businesses that are just renewing their licenses. It also won’t affect any building permit applications for existing businesses.
Next there will be a limit to real estate businesses, then foreign exchanges, and hopefully there will be a limit on the number of municipal employees – particularly Planners.
I like your way of thinking! But I highly doubt there will be a limit to real estate businesses. The real estate industry has a firm grip on West Vancouver and Canada because realtors earn too much money! Realtors should earn a flat rate, not a percentage, but it’s a morally corrupt industry.
I will not beat up on real estate agents as I know many and find them to be honest and hard working. Yes, they often make a lot of money but there are times when they don’t much at all.
If council restricts landlords from renting to any prospective tenant then more and more landlords are going to suffer and possibly have to dump their property. Is that the intention here?
Also, I’ll just bet that municipal hall does not lower the taxes on a property just because it has been without tenants for months or even years.
Has anyone really looked at the number of vacant stores we have in Ambleside? It is dying and the types of tenants that landlords have been getting is an indication of that. People, do you shop in Ambleside? I do! I’ll bet you all shop at Park Royal! That is a major problem.
The number of vacancies pertains to the high rents. The municipality needs to look at a way that small businesses can afford to operate. Offices, such as real estate should secure second floor spaces. Most of the realtors offices in Dundarave village remain empty with very few walk ins. But these spaces offer an inexpensive alternative to their advertising.
This does not help to build a community of successful small businesses.