Sample Letter

 

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Donna Johnson

Vancouver, B.C. Canada

 

 

The Date: _____October  26, 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 to: judyw@wreckbeach.org and paulette.vetleson@gvrd.bc.ca

Via Fax to Judy Willams: 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 because:

 

As a resident of Vancouver I find it extremely disappointing that the Recognized School of Higher Learning in this beautiful city can be so determined to change and possibly destroy not only a delicate and well preserved natural environment of historic fauna and an extensive bird sanctuary but also a jewel that this city has to offer all people.

 

How the academic thinking minds of our time (educating our children) could feel it in their power to impose their development on a destination that is about peace of mind to those that appreciate what nature has to offer.

 

I realize that the University of BC needs to improve their housing situation for students and facility and keep their standing in the world as a leading University.  But please don’t do it at the expense of the community and the parks.

UBC advised the public at the Oct 5 Public Meeting that space exists for future student housing at Totem Park and on the South Campus site. This means that UBC could lower the proposed towers and still meet its student housing needs.  No you will not have high-rises with great views, but you could create great student communities that would be more pleasing as a village environment rather then cold towering towers.  Simon Fraser has been very successful in working with the community to provide the appropriate housing in keeping with the wilderness environment (the main reason we all live in BC in the first place).

 

We should be proud that we still preserve an area like Wreck Beach in such a developing City.  Our Communities University should be the last business that should be rushing to alter this pristine park at this coastline of the city. 

 

I sat through almost 3 years on Cliff Erosion with the GVRD, UBC, Wreck beach Preservation Society, Pacific Spirit Park and other Stake Holders.  At that time I believe that we ended with many years of working together to protect the cliffs.  This past year alone I believe we saw at least 4-6 slides on the cliffs.  Paved surfaces could increase water run-off that could further erode the fragile and unstable park cliffs above the beach. We spent time with many consultants, engineers, parks people and citizens and the basic end all be all is there was many problems and much was due to bad drainage, run off.  Do you know the impact that could be on those towers so close to the cliff if a 1 in 10 storm should happen?  You say not in our lifetime… We have been watching Mother Nature throw a lot of coastlines some powerful storms not felt for decades, why not us? Why gamble with student lives?  Why put more pressure on these cliffs when we know they are already so delicate.

 

Lets us hold on to the jewel of Vancouver with high regard, keep the view as our visitors come in by sea to be the view that it should be, empty of towers.  Let the people who enjoy the park continue to see nothing but nature, they don’t want towers visible from the park and beach, or along gully sight lines.

Can you honestly believe that towers will not affect the flora, fauna, and birds? Birds lives hang in the balance of buildings that intrude into their spaces, not only of tall towers on migratory birds, but also of night lighting.

Please work to raise a village in your alternate vacant spaces.  Your students and faculty will be happier; high-rises are cold, villages deliver healthy and friendlier environments.  It’s True.

 

Most sincerely yours,

 

 

Donna Johnson