Here's the latest email we received from Ann Phelps in regards to the continued changes in False Creek.
Dear Paddlers, Volunteers, and Supporters:
Starting March 7th, and probably continuing for at least a month, a series of public hearings to do with the last piece of undeveloped land in False Creek will be heard in front of Vancouver’s Mayor and Council. There are four developers working in the area: Concord Pacific, Canadian Metropolitan, Aquilini and PavCo. All of the developers are seeking concessions as part of their rezoning and are suggesting a variety of “community amenity credits” or CACs in exchange. In simple terms, a CAC is a community benefit that a developer offers to the City in return for a concession that will make the developer more revenue. Samples of CAC’s are a park, a community centre, perhaps a daycare centre; it changes with each rezoning.
As you know, we’ve been talking to the City about a permanent boathouse in False Creek that would be used 100% by the community it serves. We’re thrilled that we’re allowed to operate in Creekside Community Centre, but obviously it’s a short term solution. There is no place to actually put boats, which is an integral part of any boathouse. At the present time though, a new boathouse is NOT on the list of CAC’s that Mayor and Council are contemplating during this next round of hearings.
Two new CAC’s that have suddenly appeared on the list of suggestions from the Developers are: a new ice rink to be used by the community on a part-time basis and a new 13,000 square foot community space.
As well, at the last hearing another two community organizations made a plea and while all the above may all be appropriate CAC’s our fear is that a boathouse is not even on the list at this time. There is not an unlimited amount of a infinite number of CACs – Community Amenity Contributions; there is only so much land and money available to the community. As of today our boating facility is not on the list of possible CACs for NEFC. We need to let Mayor and Council know now that we want them to put our boating facility on the CAC list, or it could get pushed to the bottom, and then off, the list
I would like to urge you to write or email to Mayor Robertson and the rest of City Council or even register to speak at one of the hearings:
To Speak at a Public Hearing
These being on March 7th. You must email
[email protected] and ask to be put on the list. Due to the number of speakers, you’ll probably not speak for a few days so it’s not necessary to go to all of the hearings. You may have to attend a couple of the hearings just to get a feel for what’s going on.
To Email to Mayor and Council
Please address your emails to:
[email protected].
Some of the points you want to make are:
As a group, Dragon Boating originally thought that the boathouse would be in Southeast False Creek (SEFC) and we worked through the community process as part of a group of stakeholders. Then we were advised that the residents wanted a general community center and that DBF was too big to be accommodated in SEFC.
North East False Creek (NEFC) is the last piece of undeveloped land. We want a boathouse in NEFC - it is our last chance for a permanent home in Vancouver.
DBF will share the boathouse facility with the other non-powered boaters, most immediately False Creek Rowing.
We want the boathouse recognized as a CAC for North East False Creek; we have an already proven need. You just have to look in the creek and you’ll see paddlers out on the water
Paddling has almost zero impact on the environment which is line with Council’s goal of making Vancouver the Greenest City in the World.
Paddling is affordable and inclusive. Paddlers are all cultures and ages, with different physical and mental abilities.
Paddling only works on the water. Ice rinks can be anywhere.
We note that that the proposed hockey rink/community facility at the Plaza of Nations was not on the original CAC list so it’s not too late to include the boathouse on the same list.
Please forward this to as many people as you can. We need numbers!
Regards,
Ann Phelps
General Manager
CIDBFS
