Sample Letter

Seattle , WA , USA
October 24th, 2005

Mr. Denis Pavlich, VP of External and Legal Affairs, UBC; Mr. Johnny Carline, CAO, the Greater Vancouver Regional District; Mr. Hugh Kellas , Manager, GVRD Policy and Planning; Members, the GVRD-UBC Joint Committee; Members, the GVRD Board of Directors; Members, the UBC Board of Governors; Mr. Ed Andrusiak , Manager GVRD Parks; Mr. Mitch Sokalski, Manager, West Area Parks, and GVRD Policy and Planning Department

Via e-mail,
c/o: paulette.vetleson@gvrd.bc.ca and
Via e-mail to: judyw@wreckbeach.org
Via Fax to Judy: 604-(604) 856-9598

Dear Decision Makers and Stewards of UBC and GVRD:

Re: Marine Residential Towers.

I strongly oppose the current proposal for this development. The level of housing is far too dense for the site and the towers will have a profoundly negative impact on viewscapes from the beach and Park, as well as on other Park values. I strongly recommend that UBC use an alternative location or design to reduce the impact of this development on the park and beach. The two 18-storey Phase II towers must be lowered on this site. These towers must not show from the beach.

With the North Shore mountains to the east, Mt. Grouse, Seymore and majestic Garibaldi in the distance;  Horseshoe Bay to the north and the magical lights of the ferries plying across the straits . . . to the mountainous spine of Vancouver Island to the west; Pacific Spirit Park has always been a refuge from the glass and steel artificial light pollution of the City of Vancouver in the background . . . the bluffs shielding the beach visitor from the noise and light of the fast-paced life a of large metropolis.  You sit on the beach and you are immersed in the beautiful scenery and nature that has made Vancouver one of the most sought-after cities in the world.

The peninsula that the University of British Columbia sits on is a sacred place; the name of Pacific Spirit Park says it all.  This is a place for reverence, for contemplation.  Civilization is near . . . with it's crime and head-long rush into corporate business.  But step down the bluff trails onto the beaches and the city-sounds diminish, the twilight sky darkens to reveal multitudes of stars and even the on-shore breezes from the straits freshens the soul.  That is what Wreck Beach means to so many people . . . the chance to be away . . . if only for an hour or so . . . from the city.  A chance to refresh the soul.

Until Tower One went up, nothing intruded on the skyline.  The beach remained a pristine place and a reminder to all of just how beautiful the area is.  We disagreed with the location for the first tower and were ignored.  Now we live with a piercing reminder in the form of lights intruding over the bluffs to destroy the magic of this special place.

The Greater Vancouver Recreation Department(the GVRD)is tasked with protecting these places for the betterment of citizens lifestyles.  I challenge each and every member to do the right thing, regardless of the economic arguments the University of British Columbia may make.  The UBC claims a $28 million dollar added cost because of the citizens plea to save Wreck Beach and Pacific Spirit Park but that is a specious argument in that they had the power, themselves, to do the project right from the very beginning instead of bulldozing this through little public oversight.  Tower One is now up and "it can be seen from the low tide areas of Wreck Beach despite their assurance it could not.  I challenge the GVRD to do it's job as the people of Greater Vancouver elected it to do.

The UBC sits smug . . . fait 'accompli.  Phase Two is announced and two more towers are going to be built with even more visibility from the beaches.  Where once a visitor could walk at low tide and feel a part of nature, now they we see and know of the scars of steel and glass overlooking the bluffs.

Anyone with access to Google Earth can see for themselves the impact these 53 metre towers will have on the silhouette of the bluffs ( http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=156940 , this 3D rendering consider on 49 metre towers, the actual towers are 4 metres

higher!) These students towers, blazing away at night will be like a lighthouse from Vancouver Island across the straits!

The UBC has had every opportunity to listen to the community and understand that what the people want should be foremost.  I challenge the GVRD to stop this encroachment now.  Civilization should never encroach so blatantly on the beauty of the bluffs or beaches below.

These Student Residential Towers will become a blight at the entrance to the Fraser River and the City of Vancouver !  I call on the elected and appointed members of the GVRD to hold the line and can for responsible visions of the future with ample public discussion.

Respectfully,
Richard Pierides
Seattle , WA