Article

SPEC Posts Three Wins in June!

Publication Date: June 30, 2005
Author: Karen Wristen
Source: SPEC

Big Box Retail NOT in Vancouver...Duke Point Power Deal is Dead...Barnston Island Agriculture Preserved

June, 2005 was quite the month at SPEC. The big winner was air quality, province-wide. The threats to our air quality arise in development applications of diverse sorts, and this month's wins are an excellent example of the variety of challenges we face in working to really meet our commitments to reduce greenhouse gases.

On June 28, Vancouver City Councillors voted to deny zoning applications by two Big Box retailers wanting to build complexes in South Vancouver. Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire wanted to build over 400,000 square feet of retail space on Marine Drive. They were predicted to add 16,000 more vehicle trips a day to the Marine Drive traffic, which is already heavy and congested at rush hours. That would have represented a 25 per cent increase in noise, pollution and traffic.

SPEC Director Deming Smith led our efforts to get the community out to the public rezoning hearings to express their views. Conducting public meetings, mailing flyers and speaking endlessly with the media, Deming explained how big box retail kills neighbourhoods and increases pollution, no matter how ‘green’ the buildings may be.

“This is a great day for the people of South Vancouver,” said Deming. “They said ‘no’ to big boxes in their neighbourhoods and they were heard. Great kudos to City Councillors for responding to the people.”

Earlier in June, we learned that BC Hydro had decided to exercise its right to cancel the Duke Point Power deal after SPEC Counsel Bill Andrews was successful in winning the right to appeal the BCUC approval for the controversial gas-fired power plant. That was a great day for the Province, as it meant no new greenhouse gas emissions in return for short term power supply.

Hydro can now concentrate on meeting Vancouver Island electricity needs with demand management measures and the development of renewable energy resources.

Also in June, we learned that the GVRD would resist efforts by Surrey to annex the farming community of Barnston Island, in the Fraser River. Surrey was supporting efforts to remove lands on the Island from the Agricultural Land Reserve, in order to convert them into an industrial park.

SPEC advocated for the retention of the ALR lands in 2004, when some owners applied to remove lands from agricultural use. SPEC supports the retention of productive farmlands in close proximity to city markets, so that the Vancouver Region can continue to enjoy a secure and affordable food supply. We are also opposed to the conversion of Lower Mainland lands to uses that increase the production of greenhouse gases.

To all of you who wrote letters or appeared at the hearings that made these wins possible, our sincere thanks. It is always the support of our informed and caring members that moves governments to make decisions for sustainability.