WRECK BEACH: Letters of protest & praise
|
More Wreck Beach Info... activities, bulletins, calendar concerns, directory, entertainment, events, food, guide, history, love letters, music, massage, maps, parking, people, petitions, photos, products, protests, raffle, stories, support, swims, tides, trails, vendors, weather Please also see the WBPS Website for further information. Some pages may be in midst of construction. Please check back...
Back to Main Wreck Beach Page Back to Front Page Wreck Beach - Important Petitions/Letters
This page shares letters written by people that love Wreck Beach and are either protesting plans to destroy the beach or praising all the beach wonders that abound. If you wish to share your letters, please submit by email and we will gladly consider it for posting. Letter formats have been slightly changed to save space , however, content is untouched.
|
Letter by Donald & Peggy Zirbel of Canby, Oregon October 23, 2005
Dear Decision Makers and Stewards of UBC and GVRD:
Re: Marine Residential Towers.
We wish to express our
disappointment and opposition over the current proposal to push forward with
the construction of the UBC’s Phase II towers. As frequent visitors to
British Columbia from the northwestern United States, we are dumfounded over
the philosophy that seems to be driving the towers proposal. This decision
not only conflicts with Vancouver’s reputation as one of the world’s most
beautiful cities; it directly threatens it.
The natural setting provided by Wreck Beach, and the mouth of the Fraser River, are in part what bring us back time after time. And it is clear that we aren’t alone; it’s impossible to research tourism information for Vancouver without quickly coming across images of Wreck Beach and its tidal flats and green cliffs, with flocks of migratory waterfowl adding to the beauty of the wilderness. It’s worth an entire day at water’s edge just to watch an eagle with its young, soaring over the flats and adjacent land. It is admirable to find that such a developed metropolitan area as Vancouver also respects and values the natural beauty of its own region, and provides its inhabitants and visitors with opportunities to enjoy it.
Now, those same inhabitants and visitors are facing the loss of one of the very things that draws them to Vancouver and the surrounding area. Through ignorance, greed and short-sightedness, the world is losing its natural beauty at frightening speed. The United States is no exception, and it’s one of the reasons so many U.S. tourist dollars change hands in British Columbia and other parts of Canada. Ask the average U.S. citizen what makes Canada different from our own country, and the answer is most often “the natural beauty up there”. Vancouver sits at the top of a tourist gateway, accommodating over a half million U.S. citizens each month. Besides the loss of scenic beauty, the environmental destruction of the Wreck Beach area, as a direct result of the towers construction at their proposed height, is bound to negatively impact these numbers. Not only will the region’s natural beauty be forever marred, so will its reputation among the environmental and tourist communities of the world.
Once it’s done, it’s done. The time for damage control will have long passed, and the countless numbers of visitors who are watching the towers issue unfold will pass as well. We appeal to you to reconsider the long-term consequences of the decisions being made. Over time, the number of bodies that the towers are expected to accommodate cannot possibly approach the number of those who will find other venues in which to spend their tourist dollars and hard-earned vacation time. This letter speaks for two of those bodies, but represents many, many more.
Thank you for your consideration; we await, with significant personal interest, the final resolution of this issue.
Sincerely yours, Donald and Peggy Zirbel
Letter by Eric Lefer of Vancouver, BC October 25th, 2005
Dear Decision Makers and Stewards of UBC and GVRD:
Re: Marine Residential Towers.
“Over the coming decades, society faces a profound challenge and responsibility to transition toward sustainable living and to ensure a liveable world for future generations (… ) The IRES strive for excellence in education and research in a wide range of resource and environmental issues -- from resource management, sustainable development, corporate greening, land and water management, risk assessment, ecosystem health, urbanization, climate change, renewable energy, policy and regulation innovations. An important part of the mandate is to contribute communications and awareness of, and build relationships with, people and institutions, both on-campus and around the world. Resource management and sustainable development must occur at all levels: global, regional, national and local; IRES pioneers work at all of these levels, 1) global scenario modelling, 2) regional, national and international strategies, 3) creative approaches in community adaptation and sustainability, and 4) promotes concepts and practices that place industrial and business activities within an ecosystem (holistic) framework. The Institute brings to its activities a keen awareness of the linkages that cut across spatial levels, and across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.”
You may already have guessed those words are coming from the introduction of the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability Faculty of University of British Columbia (IRES).
When I look at the Marine Residential towers development, I can’t find any tracks of “sustainable living” for “future generations”… or indications of “ building relationships with people”. I also keep looking for the “creative approaches in community adaptation and sustainability ” … Would it be possible that those words won’t be just empty words? If we could follow those principles, UBC would be more credible in its educational role. Don’t you think UBC should set the standard for the future and be the leader in promoting this new sustainable ecological movement? Would you it be possible that UBC live with and for the community and not against it? Is it so much asking to keep those buildings under the tree line in order to preserve the beauty of the park?
I strongly oppose the current proposal for this development. The first tower already had a profoundly negative impact on views capes 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.
Most sincerely yours, Eric Lefer
Letter by Robert W. Hunter of Vancouver, BC Oct. 26, 2005
Dear Stewards of the University of British Columbia and the GVRD:
Re: Marine Residential Towers.
UBC’s natural setting is its greatest asset. The forests and beaches around UBC are important for preserving an ecological and spiritual balance. It is frightening to see how fast that setting is being desecrated. I beg you to take a walk down to the beach and see what a special place it is. Wreck Beach is fragile. Where is the understanding to be found that will work to preserve such fragile places, if not at a great institution like UBC?
Please do your utmost to prevent UBC from looking any more like an industrial park than it already does. Please keep all development as far away from Wreck Beach as possible. Please relocate the Phase II towers!! There are many places away from the Wreck Beach cliffside where these towers would be better located. It would be such a shame for the university to let one of its most special places – known around the world – be destroyed by such needless development.
Universities are unique institutions, whose mission is to preserve and further our knowledge of the world and to provide greater insight into our world. What is happening around UBC recently (“selling out to the almighty dollar”) clearly goes against these purposes. Let’s work together in order to save our university from the greed that is devouring the world at a faster and faster rate.
Thank you, Robert W. Hunter
Letter by Donna Johnson of Vancouver, BC Oct. 26, 2005
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
Letter by Diana McIntosh of Vancouver, BC Oct. 26, 2005
Dear Decision Makers and Stewards of UBC and GVRD:
Re: Marine Residential Towers.
I definitely oppose the current proposal for the irresponsible development of UBC's Marine Towers. I write this letter as a plea to reconcile your thoughts in regards to this development that goes against 40,000 signatures, hundreds of letters and much controversy around the bullying of UBC to push forward to complete these plans regardless of the GVRD's and community outcry. What kind of educational institution ignores it's very own parks board, community, students, visitors and residents and their obvious displeasure at what is happening to our beautiful natural environment at Wreck Beach? The amount of housing, traffic and environmental destruction it creates will have a profoundly negative impact on the views from the Park and the beach.
I strongly recommend that UBC use an alternative location 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 if it is used at all. I prefer to think that UBC in its wisdom and community participation would listen to all that is being shared with support of its own community by moving these towers to another site to avoid any more desecration of the environment in this fragile area.
After many slides that have only occurred since construction began, one would think Mother Nature would have you pay attention to her subtle hints that this is not a good location for your huge, monstrous, ugly towers. What happens if we are hit with a big storm as have many other coastlines lately since the global weather changes are happening? Your high-rise towers are ridiculously close to the most fragile cliffs in the whole of Wreck Beaches coastal area.
Your ignorance of your own communities voice creates upset, unrest and very bad karma for UBC, a supposed institution of higher learning. What person or institution of higher educational learning would ignore all the environmental impacts, it's own communities upset and Mother Natures hints that this is not the right location for your student residences? How can you possibly consider yourself an educational institute. With all the studies and programs that UBC currently participates in, how can you ignore the impact of this project on the natural environment that you steward.
High Rises are cold and unfriendly environments and I believe the students, like most people, ultimately prefer more village like atmospheres that offer much more of a community flavor and feel about them if they have a choice. UBC is know for its naturally beautiful environment and this is something that should not be ignored.
I totally agree with the following quoted from another letter writer in protest of the towers...
“Over the coming decades, society faces a profound challenge and responsibility to transition toward sustainable living and to ensure a livable world for future generations (… ) The IRES strive for excellence in education and research in a wide range of resource and environmental issues -- from resource management, sustainable development, corporate greening, land and water management, risk assessment, ecosystem health, urbanization, climate change, renewable energy, policy and regulation innovations. An important part of the mandate is to contribute communications and awareness of, and build relationships with, people and institutions, both on-campus and around the world. Resource management and sustainable development must occur at all levels: global, regional, national and local; IRES pioneers work at all of these levels, 1) global scenario modeling, 2) regional, national and international strategies, 3) creative approaches in community adaptation and sustainability, and 4) promotes concepts and practices that place industrial and business activities within an ecosystem (holistic) framework. The Institute brings to its activities a keen awareness of the linkages that cut across spatial levels, and across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.”
I have visited and enjoyed Wreck Beach and its beautiful, natural, quiet environment for 27 years and spend more than 100 days a year at the beach through all the seasons. What attracts me most, is the fact that you can look up at the trees from most anywhere on the beach, tide in or out and see nothing of the city, just nature everywhere. In the far, far distance is the airport, barely a glimmer from the beach. Wreck Beach brings in many, many tourist $ every year. Who will want to go to a clothing optional beach that can be viewed by telescope from all the student residences above. Suddenly, our private, natural beach becomes an invitation to be viewed by camera and placed on the internet, without our permission!
Each year I see countless animals, birds, marine life that frequent Wreck Beach. I have watched the family of eagles above me for many years and continue to enjoy their beauty. The many herons and other wonderful sealife birds are very threatened with this development as it sits in their migratory pathway and disrupts them considerably with all the blazing lights at night. The cliffs themselves are very fragile and will not withstand so much weight, traffic, activity as has already been shown with the several slides that have occurred already, yet construction is still proceeding like nothing has happened!
Have any of you actually ever been down to visit this incredible beach environment that you so single-handedly are destroying?
What will it take for you to stop this insanity and listen to the local and world community that fills your classrooms, shares your beaches, parks, pathways and visits your university grounds. Everyone is so fed up with UBC's ignorance of everyone around them in regards to this development and we will continue to fight you and express our distaste at the obvious greed that is really running this whole scenario...
How can you put a price on compromising our natural environmental beauty, animal and marine life? There is no way to change things once it is destroyed.
STOP NOW and honor your communities voice. How much louder do we have to scream?
Sincerely yours, Diana McIntosh
Letter by Josette Berne Oct. 7, 2005
"A Sanctuary to be preserved" (Attention Mr.Carline, CAO GVRD).
In support of the letter (cf. attachment) written by the WBPS to Mr.Carline of the GVRD, regarding the three (3) towers planned by UBC overlooking Wreck Beach, I woud like to add the following personal comments.
Dear Mr.Carline,
In today's urbanized and stressful life, protected places of quiet and natural beauty such as Wreck Beach are virtually impossible to find near great cities. Rather than hurting it, this beach adds to the pride and reputation of the UBC campus.Let us keep this exceptional beach as untouched and as free of civilisation as possible. Let us also respect the people who use it:they too belong to Spirit Park -- like the trees and the birds,the open landscape, and the ocean...
This beach is a sanctuary, a vivid mirror of a larger consciousness, which goes far beyond all academic values, and which cannot be measured in terms of months, dollars, or numbers of storeys. What are 18 months lost or won, when we are dealing here with timelessness?
Would you consider building residential floor space inside a cathedral or a temple? The open spaces of the Canadian West Coast are just such a spiritual heritage. Could we continue to respect it together?
Mr.Carline, Ladies and Gentlemen reading this letter, the people using and shaping Wreck Beach are trying to tell you something: please, listen to them. Do not kill the spirit, but help protect the sacredness of this very special beach.
Thank you, J.Berne