Friday, February 20, 2015 Richmond Review · Page 1 Colts off to juvenile boys the richmond basketball championships 23 REVIEW

RICHMONDREVIEW.COM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 36 PAGES Threat of monster homes has residents worried

Legal loophole in land use contracts allows developers to bypass normal house-size restrictions

by Martin van den Hemel Staff Reporter Some residents are worried that devel- opers will scramble to take advantage of an expiring legal loophole that by- Matthew Hoekstra photo passes the normal limit on house size. was home to the largest public Chinese New Year event in the city. Thousands of residential properties across the city don’t have to conform to the city’s zoning rules because of 1970s-era land use contracts that pave Richmond rings in Year of the Goat the way for developers to construct homes more than twice as large as permitted elsewhere. a countdown ceremony the night before at golden dragon around the courtyard. According to the City of Richmond, Thousands turn out for which Prime Minister Stephen Harper dotted Mayor Malcolm Brodie told the crowd his these land-use contracts are “currently countdown event at the lion’s eyes just before midnight. wishes for the new year—kindness among producing a form of redevelopment that In the morning, more than 80 performers them. was not envisioned in the 1970s...houses Aberdeen Centre, which drew from seven Chinese martial arts groups en- “We know that the Chinese New Year has which are much larger than the original tertained a multiethnic crowd of hundreds become a huge cultural festival in the city of housing stock that was built when the Canada’s Prime Minister in Aberdeen’s Hazelbridge Way courtyard. Richmond, and it’s also a time for our families. neighbourhood was established,” city Some onlookers gathered outside, while So we need to emphasis in this year…to be spokesperson Ted Townsend said. by Matthew Hoekstra others clambered for window position inside kind to the people we love, whether they are Land-use contracts were used in the the three-storey mall—many training smart- near us or whether they are far away.” 1970s to establish land-use regula- Staff Reporter phone cameras on the action. Chinese New Year is a spring festival cel- tions for large parcels of land. Histori- Eyes were dotted, firecrackers exploded and After dignitaries dotted the lions’ eyes—a ebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar, cally the contracts could not be modi- a golden dragon entertained at Chinese New traditional start to the lion dance—fireworks which this year is the Year of the Goat—an fied or discharged from a property Year celebrations across Richmond Thursday. exploded while acrobats moved the colourful animal of the zodiac also interpreted as a without the property owner’s consent, Aberdeen Centre was home to the larg- costumes to the sounds of Chinese percus- sheep or ram. Townsend said. est public event in the city, beginning with sion. Martial artists then danced an 18-metre See Page 7 See Page 4 WELCOME KUNG HEY FAT CHOY! TO THE Resort Style Amenities at Lansdowne Village 僑ᮖḻⶾ ABERDEEN CENTRE YEAR 2170 - 4151 Hazelbridge Way 604.233.0500 from $289,900 OF THE We are here to [email protected] See our ad on page 2 ensure a peaceful start MALL 1200 - 4380 No. 3 Road GOAT to your prosperous year! 604.279.9828 [email protected]

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Matthew Hoekstra photos Chinese New Year celebrations at Aberdeen Centre Thursday morning featured 80 performers. Photos clock- wise from top left: A family watches the action in the mall’s courtyard from behind a velvet rope; a lion dance; performers wait for their turn; a photographer snaps a photo of the stage with the grounds littered with debris from firecrackers; golden dragon performers; and Thomas Fung, CEO of Fairchild, and fortune teller Sherman Tai take turns dotting the eyes of the dragon.

Friday, February 20, 2015 Richmond Review · Page 7

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Jason Ransom photo Prime Minister Stephen Harper dotted the traditional dragon during a Chinese New Year’s celebration at the Aberdeen Centre. Council Update Prime minister comes to Chinese Food scraps recycling protects our environment New Year countdown at Aberdeen Beginning program, one of the first complete this year, Metro food scraps recycling services in the banned region, was later expanded into our From Page 1 of the flourishing of multicultur- B.C. Chinese Orchestra and B.C. all food scraps award-winning Green Cart program. Prime Minister Harper’s visit alism,” said Wat, B.C.’s Minister Youth Chinese Orchestra per- from its landfills. Because of these initiatives, single- was a surprise for the count- Responsible for the Asia Pacific form at 1 p.m., and the Vancou- There is currently family residents achieved our goal of down crowd that numbered in Strategy and Multiculturalism. ver Academy of Dance performs a grace period to diverting over 70 per cent of waste the thousands, said Aberdeen Chinese New Year celebrations at 3 p.m. On Sunday, Zhong allow people to from the landfill two years ahead of spokesperson Joey Kwan. “At continue this weekend: Yang Music and Arts Academy adjust to the new Malcolm Brodie schedule. first it was pretty intense, but •Friday through Sunday Can- takes the stage at 1 p.m., fol- ban but beginning Mayor The next step in Richmond recycling everything went as planned,” ada Berries winery at 12791 lowed by Colours of Dance at July 1, it will come will include multi-family residences said Kwan. “This was very, very Blundell Rd. will host a family- 3 p.m. into full effect. complying with the ban. After special for us.” friendly celebration from 11 •On Sunday, the Tzu Chi Foun- Food scraps generate over 30 per last year’s successful pilot program, Richmond Centre MLA Teresa a.m. to 6 p.m. featuring enter- dation will host a celebration cent of typical household waste Council has now approved an Wat said people of many eth- tainment, fireworks and danc- event from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at and until recently went with other expanded Green Cart program. All nicities came to the celebration. ing. R.A. McMath Secondary, 4251 garbage into the landfill. Annually, multi-family complexes will have “This is a great demonstration •At Aberdeen on Saturday, the Garry St. this practice cost local taxpayers convenient access to food scraps millions of dollars. The environmental recycling by the summer. Residents costs are even greater because can find out more details about this landfills damage the environment. program on the City website at With little oxygen, food scraps decay www.richmond.ca. NEED A NEW AUTO REPAIR MECHANIC? and produce methane, a powerful As Richmond’s Mayor and Chair greenhouse gas that contributes to of Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste global warming. Yet, food scraps can Committee, I am proud of Richmond’s easily be recycled into compost for leadership in expanding recycling Direct Drive Auto Service Can Help! nutrient-rich soil in just 90 days. options and particularly proud of Like most cities, Richmond has our residents for their strong support been preparing for this situation for the Green Cart and general Ron Hardie, owner of Direct Drive Auto Service, brings over 20 for several years. Thanks to our recycling programs. We will continue years experience servicing vehicles in Richmond. Ron was the residents, the rate of recycling for to expand recycling services for the Head Service Technician at Blundell Esso from 1994 to 2009, and Richmond single-family homes is community as Richmond and the he invites you to visit his repair facility. Direct Drive Auto Service significantly higher than the regional region strive to reach the goal of 80 average and over double the per cent diversion from the waste has current diagnostic equipment to easily repair and maintain national rate. Our original Green Can stream by 2020. your vehicles. Ron is proud that Direct Drive Auto Service is a family owned and operated company. SPRING SERVICE SPECIAL! • OIL CHANGE $ OFF • SAFETY INSPECTION

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