The villages of Anmore and Belcarra lost a trusted colleague and friend this month with the death of their longtime planning consultant, Michael Rosen.
Rosen became the planner for Belcarra in the spring of 1981, less than two years after the village incorporated, and for Anmore in 1987. Mayors Ralph Drew and Heather Anderson said Rosen's advice and influence in both villages were invaluable over the past 30 years.
Rosen wrote the first official community plans for Belcarra and Anmore and guided all the subsequent plans and bylaws since then.
"He did a tremendous job," said Drew. "He had a particular knack for dealing with people... and he's going to be a real loss."
Drew, who joined Belcarra's first council in 1979 and has served as mayor since 1984, said Rosen's strength was in understanding the dynamics of small communities, particularly in rural settings.
Rosen "humanized" the process of planning, which can range from exceedingly dry to highly emotional and contentious decisions, Drew said. "He had a wonderful, folksy way of bringing everyone down to earth and understanding it."
On May 10, Belcarra village council unanimously awarded Rosen the Freedom of the Municipality in recognition of his 31 years of service. The village was able to bestow the award just a few days before Rosen passed away in his West Vancouver home, surrounded by his family.
Anmore Mayor Anderson, a member of council since 1993, also knew Rosen well and said he will be deeply missed.
"He was a really integral part of how the municipality has grown and developed in the last few decades," Anderson said. "It's a huge loss to the community. He was an instrumental person in everything we did. It's pretty devastating for us."
Anderson recalled Rosen as a man of great patience, happy to explain complex zoning issues with a sense of humour and compassion.
She also remembered Rosen telling her many years ago how much he valued the work he did for both villages because it gave him a chance to be part of a growing community and leave a legacy behind.
"He made a contribution in a very positive way on our municipality growing and changing," Anderson said. "He was really passionate about our village, and he worked really hard for us."
Rosen was 57 years old.
