Point Grey residents' group opposes Olympic RV parks on parkland

Can you imagine “a picturesque drive out to UBC marred by trailers, cars, and ”˜honey wagons”?

That’s one of the reasons cited by the North West Point Grey Home Owners’ Association in a letter explaining its opposition to plans to put up RV parks at the parking lots of Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach during the 2010 Olympics.

The RV parks would create “an eyesore”, the association’s letter to Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson, dated July 10, states.

The group also wrote that there was “no prior consultation” before the plan was formulated.

Here’s the text of the North West Point Grey Home Owners’ Association’s letter:

Mayor Gregor Robertson and Council
Vancouver City Hall
453 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, B.C. V5Y lV4

Dear Mayor Robertson and Council

Re: Olympic RV Trailer Park at Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach

The North West Point Grey Home Owners’ Association, as well as many other residents of the area and other individuals who utilize these parks, cannot endorse the proposal of an RV park for the Olympics in any City park for the following reasons:

1. no prior consultation with residents before proposal formulated – limited distribution of notice sent out after press release

2. commercialization of parkland with private RV management company to be in charge

3. Park Board speculation for short term gain with potential for substantial loss at taxpayers’ expense - no guarantee there is a need for all these sites or that competitive sites are not available

4. creation of a precedent for future special events

5. lack of power supply thereby creating air and noise pollution from gas-powered generators

6. impossibility of enforcement and control of noise and illegal activities with police force committed to Olympic event security – e.g. control and enforcement are poor even during relatively minor events such as the Folk Festival

7. restricted access for RVs in the event of inclement weather and possible mud slides which have occurred because of unstable banks along NW Marine Drive

8. impractical distance to venues (other than UBC) and reliance on shuttle service with buses in short supply

9. creation of an eyesore – a picturesque drive out to UBC marred by trailers, cars, and “honey wagons”

10. scale of site and the increased traffic and noise will have a major impact on public use and several residential areas

With so many other venues being over budget , could we please be realistic and limit the waste of more funds for the Olympics ? Given the history of Olympic cost overruns and Vancouver’s current financial plight, staff should be required to make public a cost-benefit analysis, with detailed breakdown of cost estimates and income, well in advance of a decision by the Park Board. The costs should include maintenance, cleanup and policing/security, plus the cost of returning the 365 RV spaces to their original (current) state, with sufficient funds sequestered for those purposes as a precondition.

What happened to the promises of consultation and practicality emphasized before the last municipal election?

Yours truly

Phyllis A. Tyers, President

cc Park Board commissioners
Susan Mundick, General Manager Parks and Recreation
Philip Josephs, Manager of Revenue Services