Good to go to Bellewoods to take a look first. In my opinion, the chute is not a big issue as the design (hopefully for V as well) is actually quite pleasant and concealed well. I bought a 4-bedder with pool view at Stack 50. It doesn't face the chute directly. (again go to Bellewoods to check it out. Just walk in and tell agent you are only taking a look.) Btw, cockroaches and other creepy crawlers can come from anywhere. (I stay on high floor now and still there are cockroaches and ants.)
Buying an EC when you can still afford it before exceeding the income ceiling is an obvious choice, at least to me, if you want to upgrade your lifestyle within your means. Dun need to sell your car just for NP. Work within your budget and dun strain yourself. Be happy with your purchase, look ahead without turning back. There will always be pros and cons in every property.
For V, the proximity to MRT is a plus point, at least for an EC. Few ECs are within such close proximity. For NorthPark, true that there is much convenience if you like to do much shopping. But it comes with a hefty price tag. This means sacrificing other conveniences - like your car etc. Is it worth it? Roads around it will be even busier (possibly more noise as well).
Do your research on other important areas, not just fengshui. Again, work within your means and budget.
Happy shopping