Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association
Volume 2, Issue 7
Grand Prix Brings Pro Cycling to UBC Campus
JULY 26, 2011
Campus Kids Climb on Bikes To Compete in UBC Grand Prix
The first annual UBC Grand Prix is just the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging cycling on campus. By Scott Steedman On Tuesday, July 12th, the Vancouver campus hosted the first ever UBC Grand Prix, a bike meet culminating in two races open to professional and amateur male and female cyclists competing for over $10,000 in prize money. The event attracted thousands of spectators. For UBC students, faculty and staff and residents of UTown@UBC, it was an opportunity to experience a world-class cycling event right here on campus. Presented by Mahony & Sons Public House, the Grand Prix also attracted spectators from nearby neighbourhoods and cycling fans from around the Metro Vancouver area to see some of North America’s best cyclists in action. The climax of the UBC Grand Prix was two criterium races for professional or amateur cyclists with more than $10,000 in prize money on the line. A criterium race is a mass start event on a 1–1.5-kilometre circuit. The athletes pedalled around the course for 40 to 65 laps, depending on their category. Spectators found the criterium races fun to watch because they saw the riders up close as they whizzed by every 60 to 70 seconds. The crowd was also entertained by the cyclists sprinting for random cash prizes awarded throughout the race. “There were about 100 men and 40 ladies in the pro/am category, and 50 or so in the children’s race,” said Mark Ernsting, race director for the Grand Prix. The pros included such big names as Will Routley, 2010 Canadian National Road Champion, and his SpiderTech team, and Whistler native Benjamin Chaddock and his USbased Exergy team. “We are committed to improving transportation options for all members of our community, by shifting travel away from automobiles and onto other more sustainable modes,” said Michael Peterson, manager, UBC transportation planning. “Raising the profile of cycling is part of this and anything that supports and celebrates cycling culture is something we are interested in pursuing. Part of UBC’s strategy in developing the UTown neighbourhoods is encouraging people to live near where they work, so they will walk or cycle to the office, and long commutes aren’t such a significant requirement.”
More UBC Grand Prix Coverage on Page 9
Well-equipped, young campus cyclists get ready for start of the UBC Grand Prix Kids’ Race. From left Santiago Jimenez, Cameron Johnson and Sol Harrison. Please turn to Page 9 for story.
Board Backs ‘Bikes Building’ in Principle, but Permit Approval Awaits Full Details Building will be developed more for cyclists than drivers; Local condo owners are opposed to project A proposed high-rise apartment building at UBC with 341 bike-racks and only 58 spaces for parked cars came in for heavy criticism from three quarters at a meeting of the UBC development permit board in July.
First, board member Jim Taylor referred to the amount of car parking space—forty spaces for residents and 18 for visitors— as “absolutely inadequate”. Then, representatives of at least five strata councils in the area of the proposed high-rise, rose at the public meeting to say why they had organized a petition opposing it. Finally, although the permit board chaired by Harold Kalke approved the development project in principle, it did
so in a manner Mr. Kalke called “unprecedented”—meaning board members sent the developer away with instructions to do further work on the project and report back on several fronts. This application for a UBC development permit to build in Chancellor Place, one of several residential neighbourhoods on campus, arrived before the board from Concert Properties and St. Andrews Hall. BIKES continued on Page 5
UBC Updates Wesbrook Place Plan to Mesh with Land Use Plan Future Wesbrook population would be doubled if amendments are approved; New Wesbrook buildings would be taller with apartments smaller
UBC has begun the process of “aligning” its several residential neighbourhood plans with the recently-updated UBC Land Use Plan, and nowhere does alignment mean more than in Wesbrook Place. The Wesbrook Place residential neighbourhood in South Campus covers 100 acres (half of South Campus), and UBC has projected it to be both the largest and
most populous neighbourhood on campus.
WESBROOK continued on Page 6 한국어와 중국어로 번역된 전체 기사 는 페이지 7에서 보실수 있습니다.
第7页有中文翻译
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011
Lack of Noise Bylaw Leaves Neighbour Fuming July 24 was one of the first sunny Sundays of the year, and Thomas Beyer, of Chancellor Place was hoping to enjoy the sunshine in his Iona Drive apartment in quiet; instead, he was irked by eight hours of noise from construction nearby Thomas Beyer is a resident of UBC. He lives at the Coast Building at 6063 Iona Drive in the Chancellor Place neighborhood. On July 24th, one of the first sunny Sundays of the year, Mr. Beyer sat on the deck of his apartment hoping to enjoy the view—only to be assailed by constant renovation noise coming from construction work in a duplex on Chancellor Boulevard below his suite. Upon telephoning UBC Campus Security, Mr. Beyer says he was told they were “not responsible for private residences and certainly not noise complaints”. Upon telephoning the RCMP, he says an RCMP constable told him “no noise by-
law exists and Sunday noise is reasonable anyway.” Mr. Beyer wonders, “Do I live in Canada? Do I live in a democracy? In a society which has laws and by-laws? In a part of the world where one can vote and determine future governance? Where taxes are used to enforce noise (parking, animal control and other) bylaws?” After searching the website of the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA), Mr. Beyer says he found a draft UNA noise bylaw dated April, 2010— well over a year old and still only in draft form. He wonders, “Why has this bylaw not been passed yet? Why is there no enforcement of noise at UBC?” A forthright speaker, Mr. Beyer cites this lack of a noise bylaw at UBC (and parking bylaw, and animal control bylaw and any other bylaw considered standard legal environment in a municipality) as part of a broader issue, namely: “Who actually represents the tax-paying residents like me at UBC?” He promptly adds two other questions along this line. • Why do no elected representatives of UBC residents/taxpayers sit on the UBC board of governors?
• How are the tax-paying residents providing input into UBC governance policies? In short, Mr. Beyer argues that since UBC is not just an academic institution anymore, but also a place the size of a small city where 8,000 people live and pay taxes, different representation models need to be explored. In the alternative, “parts of UBC have to be transferred back to the City of Vancouver where democratic principles do exist!” So, on top of his question about the lack of a noise bylaw at UBC, Mr. Beyer asks the broader question, What is the status of discussion at the UNA, UBC board of governors and among British Columbia MLAs regarding ‘no taxation without representation’? Mr. Beyer described noise from the Chancellor Boulevard duplex assailing him on July 24 as that of “a whining saw and hammering for a renovation project!” Mr. Beyer said that throughout the day he made two visits to the duplex where the noise stopped at 6 PM. At that time, the floor replacement work being done was “at best half way done.” The Campus Resident understands that a UBC representative—at the request of the UNA—visited the duplex in question on Monday to investigate the complaint by
Mr. Beyer of unacceptable noise coming from it on a Sunday. However, in the absence of a noise bylaw, sources say there is not much UBC can do at this time. The Chancellor Place resident said no noise and other by-laws means no right to enforce, which in turn means lawlessness, which in turn again means “anarchy.” He asks, “Is this what we want? Is this what UBC wants? Is this what the UBC governors want?” Hardly, he says.
Chancellor Place resident Thomas Beyer
UBC Upgrades Names with Nod to Green Nondescript names are dropped for half-dozen staff residences; replacement names are as colorful as flowers UBC has cultivated a crop of attractive, green-themed names for faculty-andstaff rental buildings previously bearing nondescript titles For example, a faculty and staff rental residence now bearing the lush green name ‘Azalea House’ previously went by the name ‘Building A’ Azalea House stands in a residential neighbouhrood at UBC called ‘Hawthorn
Place’ (whose name derives not from a plant but from the late Harry Hawthorn, a driving force behind the establishment of the UBC Museum of Anthropology). Meanwhile, a faculty and staff rental residence in Hawthorn Place now bearing the equally-lush green name ‘Sumac House’ previously went by the name ‘Building B’. As do azaleas, sumacs belong to the category of plants called ‘flowering shrubs’. This celebration of nature by UBC Properties Trust (property development arm of UBC) does not cease here. UBC Properties has renamed four other faculty and staff rental residences with green-themed names: • Cascara House, in Hawthorn Place, was
previously called Building C; • Gardenia House, in Hawthorn Place, was previously called Building D; • Tamarack House, in Hawthorn Place, was previously called Building E; and • Larkspur House, in Wesbrook Place, was previously called Building F. Like a municipality, UBC treats the business of naming new buildings, neighbourhoods, roads, etc seriously. A naming-committee consults directly with UBC president Stephen Toope. The University uses the names of famous UBC alumni, administrators and faculty as well as other criteria for coming up with new names. When the first residential neighbourhood at UBC was created in the 1990s,
Gardenia
Azaleas
Larkspur
the University resorted to a medieval theme for both its landscape gardening and choice of names—Hampton Place, named after Hampton Court, the famous palace of Henry VIII in England. Thus, you find many old English place names for residential buildings in this part of campus: Thames Court (after the river Thames, which runs through London); the Bristol (after a British port since ancient times); the Stratford (after the birthplace of Shakespeare); the Sandringham (after another royal palace in Britain), and so forth. While the naming of institutional buildings remains the prerogative of the University, UBC allows property developers invited onto campus to name the buildings they design there. One development company has devoted its naming ability to a sort of existential theme: Journey, Reflections, Sage. Rightly perhaps, the most famous name at UBC—Wesbrook—derives from Frank Wesbrook, the first president of UBC. Everyone knows Wesbrook Mall, the main road running the UBC, and every year, more and more people know about Wesbrook Place, the largest residential neighbourhood on campus—to be found between 16th Avenue and South West Marine Drive.
Tamarack
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011
page 3 Published by: University Neighbourhoods Association #202-5923 Berton Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6S OB3
Editorial Page
Editor & Business Manager John Tompkins 604.827.3502 JTompkins@myuna.ca
Now that we’re talking about cycling... Much talk about bikes took place at UBC this month. First of all came talk about the inaugural UBC Grand Prix cycling races which included a race in which about 50 youngsters sped around a course on which top professionals raced hours later. These events enjoyed wide appeal, which could only have enhanced the culture of cycling at UBC. Kudos go to Mahony & Sons Public House for presenting the UBC Grand Prix. A week later came further discussion of the culture of cycling at UBC when the UBC development board sat in judgment on an application by Concert Properties and St. Andrew’s theological college for a permit to develop a high-rise with 174 rental apartments in it and 341 spaces for bikes both underground and around the outside of the building—approximately two spaces for suite. Surprisingly, the proposed new building
in the Chancellor Place residential neighbourhood (at the north end of campus) would have only 58 underground parking spaces for cars—of which 18 would be for visitors. Obviously, UBC has the right idea in promoting a lifestyle with cycling at the core of it. It likely enhances personal longevity. It certainly reduces the UBC carbon footprint. However, the University may have gone too far into the future with encouraging the design of a high-rise built so predominantly around the choice of cycling as a means to get around. While the development permit board did not turn down the development application by Concert and St. Andrews, it did approve the project only in principle. The developers must return at a later meeting with plans for an amended design if they wish to get full approval. Expect to see Concert and St. An-
POEM
Promontory, 2011, no spring
drews to return with a plan enhancing the amount of parking space in the underground part of the building dedicated to cars and reducing the amount dedicated to bikes.
Canada and Asia, thousand meters apart; Cultures on UBC campus, no understanding; Hampton and Hawthorn, hundred meters apart; UNA Community, no harmony; Life and death, three meters apart, Promontory, 2011, no spring.
UBC Grand Prix competitor racing the course
(Editor’s note: This poem was written by a Hawthorn Place resident in January following the UBC Open House on the plan to build a hospice three metres from Promontory apartment building in Hawthorn Place.)
Why be a UNA Board Director? Prod Laquian, UNA Vice-Chair and Chair of the Standing Committee on Governance My fields of professional interest are democratic governance and the planning of small urban communities. Happily, these are also the main concerns of the UNA. So, after retiring from UBC and being named Professor Emeritus of human settlements planning, I volunteered as a member of the UNA Schools Committee. I was elected to the UNA Board in 2008 and re-elected in 2010. For the past 17 years, I have lived in Hampton Place. Since I plan to spend the rest of my life in University Town I feel that it would be useful if I contribute toward its development. Being a UNA Resident Director has been most challenging and fulfilling. UNA work takes up about one day per week of my time. About 99% of that is spent in preparing for and attending meetings to discuss issues like traffic, parking, landscaping, noise control, schools, day care, access to sports and other UBC facilities, affordable housing, etc. In three years as Director, I have learned a lot about UTown and made many new friends. Based on my experience, the main advantage to being a UNA Director is that it allows one to know more about how the community is run. It enables a Director to take part in decision-making on issues such as how the Neighbours’ Fund is spent (the UNA budget for 2011-2012 is more than $3.2 million). It allows one to ask questions like: What types of ser-
vices, facilities and amenities are paid for from the budget line of $570,971 earmarked for “Community Access”? What is included in the UNA budget line of $502,563 for “Landscaping”? How many staff members are paid from a “Payroll” of $450,000 and what are their duties and responsibilities? What is covered by the budget line of $100,000 for “Parking and Security”? On the income side of the budget, I can ask why the services levy has gone up (the levy on my condo increased by 15 percent this year and a neighbour said his went up by 20 percent). On future issues, is the UNA doing enough to reach out to new residents to encourage them to participate more actively in community life? Of course, there is the biggest question of all -- what kind of local governance structure will work best for our community in the near future? In any governance system seeking answers to questions is a basic ingredient of transparency and accountability and being on the UNA Board facilitates that in our current governance system. A major source of frustration for me as a UNA Director is the extremely complicated nature of governance in UTown. The specific interests of UBC, residents in the five neighbourhoods, undergraduate and graduate students and other stakeholders make for an exceedingly complex political situation. While the UNA is supposed to function in a municipal-like setting to deliver municipallike services, authority currently rests with the UBC Board of Governors and the BC provincial government. Getting things done is agonizingly slow because many activities depend on voluntary efforts and governance procedures can be
overly bureaucratic and cumbersome. The UNA’s mandate continues to evolve and governance processes are still being formulated. I find it troubling that nine years after its creation, the UNA has yet to pass a single bylaw on noise, parking or animal control. In my view, the main challenge faced by our community is governance. The campus population has grown to around 16,100 (about 7,600 in five neighbourhoods and 8,500 students). However, people’s participation in community life is extremely low. For example, of the 2,800 UNA members eligible to vote in the 2010 election, only 382 or 13.6 percent actually voted. The UNA spent about $14,000 for that election, that included the services of a Consultant who coordinated the election and prepared an Election Manual. In September 2009, June 2006 and December 2003, there were no elections at all -- the only candidates won by acclamation. Some critics say that there is a “democratic deficit” in UTown because authority is vested in the UBC Board of Governors and the province. The BOG, unlike a Mayor and Council cannot be voted out by the residents. However, although the Mayor-Council system is widely used in Canada, it is not the only effective model of local governance world-wide. This suggests to me that in UTown, the real democratic deficit lies in the peoples’ lack of involvement in public affairs as seen in the extremely low voting turnout. It is true that conditions in our community are very complicated but we should be able to find a governance system tailormade to our unique situation. If we succeed in doing this, UTown can become
a model of participatory democracy and sustainable urban planning. It is clear that what we need in our community is greater involvement of residents in local affairs, active community engagement, and a genuine desire on the part of residents to set up a vibrant, harmonious and sustainable community. I am hoping, therefore, that in the coming September 2011 election, we will have more candidates for two UNA resident directors, and that a higher proportion of UNA members will actually vote. This time, the UNA is mainly using mail-in ballots. All voters have to do is mark their ballots and mail these to UNA in the enclosed prepaid return envelopes. Democratic practice can be that easy if people care.
Prod Laquian, UNA Vice-Chair and Chair of the Standing Committee on Governance
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011 BIKES continued from Page 1 Concert is one of the biggest developers in British Columbia and St. Andrew’s is one of several theological colleges at UBC which have made land available for property development. Subject to being issued a development permit, Concert and St. Andrew’s intend to erect a 15-storey tower of 174 small rental suites, a single level of underground parking and a parking plan in and around the building so skewed in favour of cyclists that Mr. Taylor, who represents UBC residents on the permit board, felt obliged to say, “The parking figures make no sense.” He suggested the property—planned to have 341 bikeracks - needs “at least an additional 100 parking spaces (for cars). He further suggested, “The only option is a second level of parking.” Joan Hebb, past-president of her strata council, spoke first on behalf of councils opposed to the St. Andrew’s rental residences tower. Ms. Hebb, who lives in Sterling House (the Chancellor Place condo most impacted with development of the ‘bikes building’), said strata councils in the area were “indignant” about the plans of Concert and St. Andrew’s. She said five strata councils had signed the petition opposing the tower in their neighbourhood and “others would have signed if we’d had more time” to circulate it. Rather than the parking problems foreseen by Mr. Taylor, Ms. Hebb focused on the “the problem of congestion” on Iona Drive, one of only two mains roads which run in and out of Chancellor Place in the north part of campus—the other road being Walter Gage Road to the south. She said “Iona Drive was never designed for the kind of traffic it’s getting. Between 9 AM and 5 PM, it’s a traffic jam throughout the week. Iona is not in a position to take any more traffic.” Lamentably, Ms. Hebb said, congestion will get worse during construction of the St. Andrew’s tower and after the building
is opened—when even more traffic will be brought into the area than is there now. Thomas Beyer, representing another Chancellor Place condo, said “it is too tall.” Mr. Beyer said, “The building should be half its height. It doesn’t fit in the neighbourhood.” Mr. Beyer called the St. Andrew’s building the product of a failed UBC governance model “that does not aid residents.” He said, “There’s no mayor and council, and yet there’s close to 10,000 residents. There’s no real democratic input. Rezonings like this one are pushed through with no one to oppose them.” Local resident John Bourne said he regards UBC as too dense. “It’s becoming like False Creek North (one of the densest neighbourhoods in Vancouver).” A realtor from Dunbar who owns property in Chancellor Place said she regards “with horror” the loss of green space that will come about if the St. Andrew’s tower is built. A large and lovely playing field for young children currently occupies land on which the tower is planned. Peter Hebb, vice-chair of Sterling House said he hoped for a public hearing on the St. Andrew’s property development. Another resident raised the question, “How was this project publicized?” Following two hours of intense debate, Mr. Taylor moved the following motion (which was seconded and carried): “The development permit board provides support-in-principle for the (St. Andrew’s) project, and requires further work and a report back to the board by St. Andrew’s and Concert Properties on access and parking issues, servicing and the playground design raised this evening, and also further work on the conditions identified by the director of planning in his report.” Full text of the petition of local strata councils may be found below.
Part of this green space on land owned by St. Andrew’s Hall theological college at UBC will give way to a 15-storey high-rise if St. Andrews and developer Concert Properties are awarded development permit.
Local residents report extreme congestion on Iona Drive, which is only 20 feet wide. They expect congestion to be even more extreme during and after construction of a proposed 15-storey high-rise.
Petition to UBC development permit board - opposing the St. Andrews rental residences tower WHEREAS: • Personal safety and protection from noise, pollution and excessive vehicular and bicycle traffic on Iona Drive is paramount, and • General security, damage to the street and sidewalks on Iona Drive is at risk of involving potentially serious problems, and • Service vehicles from external sources such as fire trucks, ambulances, garbage trucks, recycling trucks, service and trade vehicles, gardening and refuse trucks and trailers, taxis and moving trucks already create severe congestion on the very narrow Iona Drive, and • The narrowness of Iona Drive (less than 20 feet wide) does not enable large vehicles to turn 90 degrees sharply to access the driveway beside 6080 Iona (whose bricked driveway footprint is less than 16 feet wide). THESE STRATA COUNCILS JOINTLY AND INDIVIDUALLY ASK FOR: 1. Prohibition of any use of Iona Drive for travel or parking on during new construction in the parkland area of St. Andrew’s College for associated trucks, trades vehicles, workers’ vehicles, heavy
machinery and transports for heavy machinery, AND all materials deliveries. 2. Prohibition of any use of Iona Drive following construction in the parkland area of St. Andrew’s College for associated garbage trucks, recycling trucks, service and trades vehicles, gardening and refuse trucks and trailers, trades vehicles, workers’ vehicles AND moving trucks. 3. Prohibition of any use of Iona Drive and the driveway beside 6080 Iona Drive for any service and trades vehicles and workers’ vehicles to enter or leave the parking garage area under the proposed new construction site at St. Andrew’s College. 4. Establishment of a significant developers’ fines system, and a flag person at all times, to enforce the prohibitions, while restricting use of Iona Drive to be only for trade and service vehicles attending buildings fronting directly on Iona Drive only. 5. Establishment of a driveway from Walter Gage Road for all moving trucks, garbage and recycling trucks, service and trades vehicles, gardening and refuse trucks and trailers and other heavy vehicle users to access the proposed new St. Andrew’s Rental Residence.
Resident reports that Iona Drive is so narrow (only twenty feet wide) that recently a fire department crew had to have a car parked (illegally) in the roadway towed to let the fire truck get by.
SIGNED BY: Strata Council of 2 Coast Buildings – 6063/6093 Iona Drive Strata Council of Stirling House – 6080 Iona Drive
Strata Council of Argyll West – 6018 Iona Drive Strata Council of Chancellor House – 6015 Iona Drive
page 6 WESBROOK continued from Page 1 In a highly-public planning process in 2004, UBC created the Wesbrook Place neighbourhood plan which, among other things, envisions the population of the neighbourhood when fully developed in seven to ten years to be 4,782 residents. However, much has changed since 2004 with not the least change occurring on March 1st this year when the updated UBC Land Use Plan came into effect. Under provisions of the updated Land Use Plan, such parts of campus as UBC Farm—which were previously zoned ‘future housing reserve’—now bear the classification ‘Green Academic’, meaning they are reserved for “sustainability teaching, research and innovation” (not future real estate development). This major change has implications for Wesbrook Place and other residential neighbourhoods at UBC for these neighbourhoods must now absorb housing development that was previously assigned to UBC Farm and other parts of campus. At an Open House on campus in June to launch the process of amending the Wesbrook Place neighbourhood plan, UBC planners explained the need to “transfer some housing density” from the UBC Farm to Wesbrook Place and the implications of this transfer. Asked to estimate the future population of the Wesbrook Place neighbourhood when it is fully developed under an amended plan, UBC director of planning Joe Stott said, “We don’t know yet. It’s early days, but it will be easily double (the 2004 figure).” This means a future population, when Wesbrook Place is built out and all homes occupied in seven to ten years, of 10,000plus residents. Asked how Wesbrook Place, originally
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011 designed for under 5,000 residents will be able to accommodate over 10,000, Mr. Stott said the University will accomplish this “mainly by increasing building heights from three storeys to six storeys with some taller buildings also required.” UBC planners also say that as new buildings - taller than those originally planned - rise in Wesbrook Place, the apartments in them will be smaller than those envisioned in 2004. Smaller homes, of course, sell for less, and the planners say this change will further align the Wesbrook Place neighbourhood plan with the UBC Land Use Plan, which calls for more affordable housing on campus for faculty, staff and students. Public reaction to these proposed amendments at the Open House seemed to cut both ways. A resident of Wesbrook Place for three years said taller buildings around her apartment will mean less sunlight coming into it. This gave her cause for concern, she said. In contrast, someone posted a note on one of several display boards erected with the comment that the amendments should be applauded. The note said, “This will bring affordable housing to campus for young faculty with family.” Planners hope to put an amended plan before UBC governors for approval by November. UBC has also begun amending the Chancellor Place neighbourhood plan to align it with the Land Use Plan. Amendments to the Hawthorn Place and East Campus neighbourhood plans will likely follow in due course. The first residents moved into Wesbrook Place in 2008. Fourteen buildings with 1,165 apartments in them have opened since then or will have opened by 2012. Between 2,000 and 3,000 residents occupy these residential units—or will be occupying them by 2012.
Residents Receive More Say in Planning Wesbrook Neighbourhood Four of nine places on advisory group are allocated to campus residents; only two of nine places were allocated on predecessor group in 2004 Joe Stott, director of planning at the University of British Columbia, said “We have listened.” At an Open House on campus in June, Mr. Stott spoke to The Campus Resident about UBC having allocated four places for residents on a group to advise it on amendments to the Wesbrook Place neighbourhood plan. Seven years ago, UBC allocated only two places to residents on a group advising it on the creation of the neighbourhood plan in the first place. This earlier group consisted of nine ‘stakeholders’, and the University Neighbourhoods Association and individual campus residents complained to the university at the time about the unfairness to residents—who, unlike other stakeholders, pay taxes to the University—having only two of nine seats on the advisory group. Mr. Stott said, “We heard the complaints. We listened carefully to them, and we have responded.” The new advisory group (formally called the advisory planning committee - APC)
also has nine places for stakeholders. But at least this time, residents occupy four of the nine places—double what they did seven years ago. The remaining five APC positions go to three other stake-holder groups: three to the university itself; one to the Pacific Spirit Park Society; and one to the Musqueam First Nation. The Campus Resident understands the University has agreed to the appointment of Sheldon Nathanson of Wesbrook Place, Richard Alexander of Wesbrook Place, and Prod Laquian of Hampton Place to represent campus residents on the APC with the appointment of the fourth resident expected shortly. The Campus Resident also understands that Judy Williams (well-known founder of the Wreck Beach Preservation Society) will represent the Pacific Spirit Park Society on the APC and that Leonora Sparrow will represent the Musqueam First Nation. Seven years ago when UBC was drafting its original plan for Wesbrook Place, the APC at the time gave advice to both UBC and Metro Vancouver under the terms of a joint-venture agreement between them called the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Much has changed since then, however. In particular, the MOU no longer exists, and so the current APC will give advice only to UBC although the University must make its amended neighbourhood plan for Wesbrook Place acceptable to the provincial government before it becomes
Main entrance to Wesbrook Place, largest residential neighbourhood at UBC
Plaza with seating and water feature in Wesbrook Place
Berton Avenue official. After the government displaced Metro Vancouver from anything more to do with land use planning at UBC in 2010, the new regimen came into effect March 1st this year. Stakeholder groups which were represented in the APC circa 2004, but who are not represented in the current iteration of
the APC, include the (UBC student) Alma Mater Society, the City of Vancouver and the University Endowment Lands Ratepayers Association. The old group met weekly from March 10th, 2004 to June 23rd, 2004. The new group will meet periodically between now and November with the first meeting held July 7th.
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011
Wesbrook Place Article (from Front Page) in Translation Korean Chinese UBC 최신 소식 웨스부룩 플레이스 플랜은 토지 이용계획과 밀접히 연결되어 있음 만약 수정안이 승인되면 미래의 웨스부룩 인구는 배가 될 것이다; 새 웨스부룩 건물들은 평수 가 더 작은 아파트를 갖춘 더 고층이 될 것이다. UBC는 최근에 새로 갱신한 UBC 토 지 이용 계획에 따라 여러 지역 주거 용 네이버후드 플랜 (neighbourhood Plans)에 대한 조정 과정을 착수했으 며, 웨스부룩 플레이스가 이러한 조정 과정에서 가장 큰 영향을 받게 되었다. 사우스 캠퍼스에 있는 웨스부룩 플레 이스 주거용 네이버후드는 100에이커 (사우스 캠퍼스의 절반)를 차지하고 있 으며, UBC는 그곳이 캠퍼스에서 가장 크고 가장 인구가 많은 지역이 될 것으 로 예상하고 있다. 2004년에 실시된 상당히 공개적인 계획 과정에서 UBC는 웨스부룩 플레 이스 네이버후드 플랜을 세웠으며, 그 중에는 웨스부룩 지역이 향후 7년에서 10년간에 걸처 완전히 개발되었을 때 인구는 4,782명이 될 것이라고 예상 했었다. 하지만 2004년 이후 많은 부 분이 변경되었으며, 특히 새로 수정된 UBC 토지 이용 계획이 시행되는 올 3 월에 큰 변화가 있었다. 새로 수정된 토지 이용 계획에 따르 면, UBC 농장은 캠퍼스에 속해, 과거 에 ‘미래 주택 후보지’로 설정되었던 것 이 지금은 ‘그린 아카데믹 (Green Academic)’으로 분류되었으며, 이것은 ( 미래 부동산 계발을 하지 않는) “지속 가능성 교육, 연구 및 이노베이션”으로 지정되었다는 것을 의미한다. 이러한 주요한 변경은 UBC의 웨스 부룩 플레이스와 다른 주거 지역을 위 해 밀접한 연관이 있으며, 이 주거 지역 들은 전에 UBC 농장 및 캠퍼스의 다른 지역에 지정되었던 주택 개발을 지금 은 흡수할 수 밖에 없게 되었다. 웨스부룩 플레이스 네이버후드 플랜의 수정 과정을 착수하기 위해 지난 6월 에 캠퍼스에서 가진 오픈 하우스에서 UBC 계획자 (planners)들은 UBC 농 장에서부터 웨스부룩 플레스로 “일부 주택 밀집도(housing density)를 이동 해야할” 필요성과 그런 이동의 연관 문제들에 대해 설명하였다. 수정된 계획에 따라 개발이 모두 끝났 을 때 웨스부룩 플레이스의 미래 추정 인구에 대한 질문에서, UBC 계획 디 렉터 (director of planning) 조 스토 트(Joe Stott) 씨는 “저희는 아직 모릅 니다. 아직은 초기 단계이지만, 쉽게
2004년 예상치의 배가 될 것입니다.” 라고 말했다. 이 말은 바로 웨스부룩 플레이스가 7 년에서 10년 내에 모두 완공되고 모든 주택에 주민이 거주하게 될 때 10,000 명이 넘는 주민인구가 된다는 것을 의 미한다. 웨스부룩 플레이스가 원래 5천명 이 하로 계획되었는데, 어떻게 10,000명 이 넘는 인구를 수용할 수 있는지에 대 한 질문에 대해, 스토트 씨는 대학교 가 “ 주로 건물의 높이를 3층에서 6층 으로 높이고, 일부 빌딩은 더 높게하므 로” 해결할 수 있다고 대답했다. UBC 계획자들은 또한 원래 계획했던 것 보다 더 높은 새 건물들이 웨스부룩 플레이스 네이버후드에 서게 될 것이 며, 그들 중 일부 아파트는 2004년에 구상했던 것보다 더 작은 평수가 될 것 이라고 말하고 있다. 물론 더 작은 집은 더 싼 값에 팔리게 되며, 교수들과 학교 직원 및 재학생들 을 위해 캠퍼스 내 더 많은 저렴한 주 택이 필요하다는 UBC 토지 이용 계획 에 따라, 웨스부룩 플레이스 네이버후 드 플랜을 향후 조정하게 될 것이라고 계획자들은 말하고 있다. 오픈 하우스에서 이러한 수정안에 대 한 주민들의 반응은 양쪽으로 나뉘는 듯 했다. 3년동안 웨스부룩에 살고 있 는 한 주민은 그녀 주변에 더 높은 빌 딩이 서면 햇빛을 차단하는 것을 의미 한다고 말했다. 이것이 바로 그녀가 우 려하는 사항이라고 말했다. 반대로, 주민 의견을 위해 세운 게시판 에 의견을 부착한 한 주민은 그 수정안 은 박수를 받아야 할 것이라고 말했다. 그 게시글에는 “이것은 가족이 있는 젊 은 교직원들에게 캠퍼스에서 살 수 있 는 저렴한 주택을 마련하게 될 것”이라 고 말했다. 계획자들은 11월까지 UBC 이사회 에 수정안을 상정하기를 희망하고 있 다. UBC는 토지 이용 계획에 따라 챈 슬러 플레이스 네이버후드도 또한 조 정 작업을 착수했다. 또한 호돈 플레 이스와 이스트 캠퍼스 네이버후드 계 획도 때가 되면 아마도 수정작업을 하 게 될 것이다. 2008년에 웨스부룩 플레이스에 최 초로 주민들이 입주했다. 14개 빌딩, 1,165가구 아파트가 2012년까지 완공 되었거나 완공될 것이다. 2012년까지 2,000명에서 3,000명 사이의 주민들 이 이 주거지역에서 살고 있거나 또는 입주하게 될것이다.
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UBC更新 Wesbrook Place 计划以配合 《土地使用计划》 如果修正案通过， 未来Wesbrook人口将倍增； 新建Wesbrook大楼会较高， 公寓单位也会较小
是初期，但可以轻易地增加一倍(相较 于2004年的数字)。」 这表示Wesbrook Place在七到十年后 完成了所有建筑，并且全部住户都有 居民入住时，总人口将达一万多人。
UBC已经针对最近更新的《UBC土地 使用计划》(UBC Land Use Plan)， 展开数项住宅小区计划的「校准」过 程，而这对Wesbrook Place的影响将 最为深远。
在被问到原本设计入住不到5千居民的 Wesbrook Place如何容纳上万人口 时，史考特先生说校方主要将会「通 过增加建筑的高度从三层加到六层,同 时也需要一些更高的大楼」来做到这 一点。
在校园南段的Wesbrook Place住宅小 区共占地100英亩(校园南段的一半)， 而UBC已经预期它将成为校内最大、 人口最稠密的小区。
UBC企划人员还说当新大楼那些比原 先计划要高的大楼矗立在Wesbrook Place 时，它们内含的公寓单位会比 于2004年预计的要小。
在2004年间一次高度公开的规划过程 中, UBC 制定了Wesbrook Place 小 区计划，其中预测这个小区在7到10 年后完全开发时的人口将达4,782位 居民。但自2004年以来发生了许多变 化，当然也包括发生在今年3月1日的 重大改变，亦即当天开始生效的更新 后《UBC土地使用计划》。
较小的住家当然会以较低的价格 出售，而企划人员说这项改变将使 Wesbrook Place 小区计划更符合 《UBC土地使用计划》，因为该使用 计划要求为教职员和学生们提供他们 可负担的住房 。
按照更新的《土地使用计划》规定， 校园内像UBC 农场这类地区 — 之前 被划定为「未来住家保留用地」者 — 现在被归类为 「绿色学术区」(Green Academic)，意思是它们已被保留为 「持续性教学、研究与创新」用地(未 来不会用于房地产开发)。 这项重大改变对Wesbrook Place 和 UBC的其他住宅小区造成了影响，因 为这些小区现在必须吸收本来分配到 UBC农场和校园内其他地点的住宅开 发计划。 在今年6月间为了开展Wesbrook Place小区计划的修正过程而在校内举 行的一次开放日活动中，UBC 企划人 员说明了把「部份住房密度」从UBC 农场「转移」到Wesbrook Place的必 要性，以及这项转移的影响。 在被问到Wesbrook Place小区按照 修正计划完全开发后的预估未来人 口时，UBC企划总监乔.史考特(Joe Stott) 说：「我们还不知道。目前只
在开放日活动中，公众对于此项建议 案的反应似乎呈现两极。一位已在 Wesbrook Place住了三年的居民说， 在她公寓周围兴建较高大楼表示日后 她的公寓里阳光会减少。她说这对她 而言，是足以关切的原因。 相较之下，有人在一个布告栏上张贴 了纸条，说明应对这些修正案给予喝 采。纸条说：「这将在校园里，为已 经成家的年轻教职员建造一些他们可 负担的住房。」 企划人员希望最迟能在11月向校方 理事会提出修订后的计划供其审 批。UBC也已开始修订Chancellor Place小区计划，使它符合《土地使 用计划》。Hawthorn Place和 East Campus小区计划的修订应当也会适时 跟进。 Wesbrook Place在2008年迎来它的 第一批居民。随后已经开放、加上到 2012年止将会开放的一共有14栋大楼 共计1,165间公寓。目前以及在2012年 前将入住这些住宅单位的居民共计两 千到3千人。
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011
UNA Community News Sustainability Corner Community Compost Program Want to make a difference and contribute to sustainability in your neighbourhood? If you’re participating in the UNA composting program, you already are. You and your neighbours diverted over 60,000 kg of organic waste from landfill in 2010, instead sending it to a local UBC facility and converting it to soil that is used on campus and in our own community gardens. By doing so, you help relieve the pressure on our landfills and reduce methane emissions (a potent greenhouse gas) created when waste degrades in landfills. You did so by participating in the first community wide composting program in multi-family homes in Metro Vancouver and one of the first in North America. While Metro municipalities are beginning to bring compost service to single family homes, the UNA remains a leader regionally in multi-family composting. If you’re not yet taking part in the program, please consider participating. If you live in a building that has the service (about 40% of UNA buildings currently participate), you just need to start collecting your kitchen scraps and use the compost tote found in your garbage and recycling room. You can purchase a kitchen bin from the Old Barn Community Centre, which comes with an information brochure. If you live in a building not yet in the program you can contact your strata council to request that service be brought to your building. Should they wish to participate, your strata can contact the UNA to arrange service. Once a service agreement is signed with UBC, it will provide your building with a compost tote for your
Ralph Wells, UNA Sustainability Manager recycling and garbage room, and arrange a pick-up schedule. UBC provides the service on a cost recovery basis, at $17 per tote pick up. A typical building would require a weekly pick up of one or two totes, where your full tote is replaced by a washed, empty tote. Our program has been successful and popular in buildings once service is established. Though participation by buildings is voluntary and stratas can leave the program at any time, no building has chosen to stop service, nor has there been a significant complaint since the UNA program began in 2005. More buildings continue to sign up - we’re happy to welcome The Corus and Esse in Chancellor Place, The Bristol in Hampton Place and The Mews in Wesbrook Place to our ever growing group. Thanks to you, we are now servicing more than 1300 homes. To find out more about the program or to arrange service for you building, contact Ralph Wells at 604.822.3263 or rwells@ myuna.ca. We hope to hear from you!
Flood from Pipe Forces Owner from Condo Owner was greeted by sight of “water gushing over front doorstep”; abandoned water pipe is thought to be source of problem At 8 AM on Sunday, July 17th, the owner of a ground-floor suite in the Logan Lane condominium complex at the University of British Columbia saw a flood of water gushing over his front doorstep on East Mall. The owner dialed the ‘911’ emergency response number, and emergency crews came to contain the water damage, which was severe. Water damage occurred not only inside the suite to floors and furniture, but also at the parkade level where at least one door was bent significantly out of shape. A source said the owner has moved out of the suite (while a restoration company works to repair it), and “may be out for a while.” Meanwhile, UBC blocked vehicular traffic from using East Mall—which remained blocked off for at least the next 24 hours. Sources say a broken and abandoned water pipe is believed to have caused the
flood. Erica Frank, a resident of the Logan Lane complex and a director of the University Neighbourhoods Association said the burst “had negative implications for multiple neighbors/constituents, and that’s really hard to experience. “But we are already in the process of creating a clearer emergency preparedness plan, and my neighbours and I are determined that we’re going learn everything we can for that plan from the successes and failures of this experience.”
UNA Board Bids Polling Booths Farewell Polling stations were used without success in 2010 election; Votes may be cast by mail, at annual meeting and UNA office in advance At their July meeting, directors of the University Neighbourhoods Association voted to eliminate the use of polling stations at UNA elections. The UNA used polling stations in various parts of campus for the first—and last— time for the annual election of directors in 2010. Without polling stations, the nearly 3,000 members of the UNA may vote in the upcoming 2011 election of two directors via the pre-2010 practice of either: (a) mailed in ballots, (b) advanced balloting at the UNA office or (c) voting at the annual general meeting September 28th at the Old Barn Community Centre. As well this year, unlike in previous years, the mail-in ballot material which the UNA sends to members will include addressed postagepaid envelopes for the return of marked ballots. A UNA report following the September 22, 2010 election noted that despite the
UNA setting up polling stations in the Old Barn in mid-campus, Tapestry in South Campus, Hampton Place in southeast campus, and Carey Centre in Chancellor Place, voter turn-out at these stations was low. For example, only about 16 people voted at Tapestry though it was open all day. Meanwhile the cost of organizing the 2010 election rose far above the costs of previous elections on account of the need to hire a Chief Electoral Officer who in turn needed to hire staff to man the polling stations. Post-election, UNA staff determined most members preferred to vote by mailin ballot. Prod Laquian, UNA vice-chair and chair of the standing committee on governance, said, “While the proposed mailed-in ballot (with postage paid return envelopes) would also cost some money, the cost will be lower than the polling stations.” Mr. Laquian said, the governance committee—which recommended the UNA board eliminate the use of polling stations—also hopes the voting turn-out will be higher without the polling stations because the process will be “less cumbersome” to voters. “We certainly hope so,” he said.
UNIVERSITY NEIGHBOURHOODS ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
A meeting for members of the UNA and residents of the “Local Areas” as defined in the Comprehensive Community Plan including Hampton Place, Hawthorn Place, Chancellor Place, East Campus, and Wesbrook Place Wednesday September 28, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at The Old Barn Community Centre (6308 Thunderbird Blvd., UBC)
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS In accordance with the UNA Constitution, there will be an Election for 2 UNA Resident Directors to take place at the UNA Annual General Meeting.
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for nomination a person must be a resident of the “local area” (those five areas currently identified for non-institutional development in the Comprehensive Community Plan and Hampton Place) and otherwise meet the requirements of our By-laws. The UNA Constitution and By-laws requires that no more than three (3) directors may come from a single area and at least one (1) director must be elected from the Faculty / Staff or Co-Development housing. To read the UNA Constitution and By-laws and recent amendments to the By-laws, please see the UNA website www.myuna.ca. Two (2) directors to be elected this September will initially hold office for two (2) years. Directors may be reelected (subject to being eligible) for up to two (2) more terms. Nominees for the UNA Board of Directors may contact the UNA office by phone, fax or email to be sent nomination forms or may print a copy from the UNA website www.myuna.ca. To be eligible, nominations require the support of 10 members of the UNA. Nominees are requested to submit a 1 page biographical sketch and photo with the completed nomination form to the UNA office. Biographical information will be posted on the UNA website and / or the UNA publication The Campus Resident.
6308 Thunderbird Blvd
Deadline for Nominations:
The deadline for nominations under the UNA Constitution is 4:30 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011. Completed nomination forms should be mailed or delivered to the UNA office, #202-5923 Berton Avenue, Vancouver BC V6S 0B3. The names of persons nominated for election as Resident Directors shall be published in a ballot and delivered to the membership with the notice of meeting and related material by September 7, 2011. Bent, out-of-shape door shows measure of water damage in UBC residential building
Should you have any further questions, please contact Cathie Cleveland UNA Administrative Manager 604.827.5540 or email Cathie@myuna.ca
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011
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UNA and UBC are co-sponsors of Kid’s Grand Prix
Kids get ready to race at UBC Grand Prix on July 12. More then 50 youngsters raced on same route professional cyclists did a few hours later. Continued from Page 1
“It fits with our philosophy,” says UNA executive director Jan Fialkowski A highlight of the UBC Grand Prix on July 12th was the Kid’s Race, sponsored by the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) and UBC. The Kid’s Race provided an opportunity for children from five to 12 years old to race on the course just like the pros. It also featured bike safety tips, with all participants receiving a prize. According to Jan Fialkowski, UNA executive director, the UNA has found events like this, which include a big focus on children, draw the biggest crowds. “It’s open to everyone, which is great. We’re not an insulated or isolated community, we want it to be open.” Ms. Fialkowki explained, “It fits into our philosophy. That’s why we took on the Kids’ Race, it’s in line with our philosophy of community and sustainability. We were glad to see lots of the neighbourhood kids out there, having fun.” Coco Lefoka, community outreach coordinator at UBC campus and community planning, said “we were very excited to co-sponsor the UBC Grand Prix Kid’s Race with the UNA.
“It fits very well with UTown@UBC’s vision of a community where people rely on walking and cycling as their main way of getting around.” UBC prides itself on being a sustainable community in which cycling and walking have become the preferred modes of travel. The vision for cycling at UBC is for the campus to be easily accessible through a well-connected and efficient network of bicycle routes that provide for the safety and comfort of cyclists of all ages and abilities. The Grand Prix was an opportunity for UBC to showcase its commitment to creating a cycling-friendly community. “This event was about much more than cycling,” said Mr. Lefoka. “It’s another way we’re building a sense of community in UTown@UBC. It couldn’t have happened without the support and sponsorship of local businesses and the help of volunteers from across UTown@UBC. The most exciting aspect of the Grand Prix was that the event added to the social vibrancy of the community. It’s one more way of keeping the campus alive after classes end.” Mark Ernstring, race direcor for the UBC Grand Prix, said, “The Kids Race was an exciting event. They (the kids) kicked off the afternoon’s festivities.” Files from UBC campus and community planning monthly newsletter.
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Stephanie Nesbitt and Katherine Xu prepare to welcome visitors to the UNA and The Old Barn Community Centre booth during the UBC Grand Prix.
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011
Summer Youth Camp Comes to UBC Stage Auditions will be held August 7th; Musical play called The Great Shift will be presented August 19th A youth camp at UBC this summer promises to ‘light up the stage’. The Light-the-Stage Musical Theatre Company presents its summer camp August 15-19 from 9 AM to 4 PM daily in the BC Binning Studios at UBC. The camp will conclude with the premiere performance of a musical called ‘The Great Shift’ August 19th. Jessi Nicholson, a Vancouver artist and company founder, and co-founder Glen Hamilton have created what they call ‘conscious theatre for curious minds’. Artistic director of the company, Ms. Nicholson notes, “This is a different kind of theatre in that it presents original musical theatre with the intention of reminding people of what is truly important in life and what is possible.” A singer, musician and actor, Ms. Nicholson says, “I have always believed that creativity is key in the development of healthy and vibrant human beings and in turn, communities. “When I see children enjoying being creative, it’s because the most authentic pieces of themselves are being validated, accepted and celebrated, and this affects who they are to become on a very pro-
found level.” Auditions for all registrants will take place Sunday, August 7th from 2-3:30 PM at the Alliance for Arts & Culture #100 – 938 Howe Street. Registrants must be between the ages of 8 and 14. The final performance of The Great Shift takes place on Friday, August 19th at 3:30 PM in the Dorothy Somerset Studios, on the UBC campus. Admission to the performance is by donation. Registration is open until August 5th, 2011. www.lightthestage.ca / (778) 896.8546
University Chapel has designed a five-day Bible school for young children this August that takes them across the Mediterranean Sea “without leaving the neighbourhood”. Bible school organizer Tabea Dauth welcomes children ages three through ten to “come on board and take the journey.”
She says, “On our journey, we will do crafts, play games, sing songs and hear great adventure stories from the Bible. Sign up today for this adventure of a lifetime!” Fore more information: (604) 222.0800 or tabea@universitychapel.org
Vancouver artist Jessi Nicholson
Evening
The Community Garden is beautiful to look at, but please don’t touch the produce! Please also keep your pet from running into the garden.
in the Park Concert Series
UNA
Bible School for Kids “Sets Sail” in August
The
Friday August 5, 2011 featuring The Rhythm Collective Michael Smith Park at Wesbrook Place
FREE 5:00pm - 6:30pm Upcoming Evening! Friday August 19, 2011 - featuring Skye Wallace! in Jim Taylor Park at The Old Barn Community Centre
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011
Planning Proceeds on Development of “Wonderful Asset” New community centre will be located in Wesbrook Place $10.8 million funding is tentatively approved by UBC The plan for developing a new community centre at the University of British Columbia moves firmly ahead. The University Neighbouhoods Association (UNA) will organize a Open House in a month or so for campus residents to comment on plans for the proposed $10.8 million community centre in the Wesbrook Place neighbourhood in South Campus. UBC campus and community planning department has tentatively approved the use of funds to construct a building of 30,000 gross square feet plus approximately 6,050 feet of daycare space and 1,200 to 3,000 of leased space. Meanwhile, first thoughts have arisen about developing a second new community centre at UBC. This second facility— size and cost not determined yet—would stand along the eastern, Acadia Road edge of UBC where it borders Musqueam land commonly referred to as ‘Block F’. UNA directors at their July meeting at the Old Barn Community Centre voted to hold the public Open House in relation to the Wesbrook Place Community Centre on the heels of a strong presentation of planning to date by Mike Feeley, co-chair of the Wesbrook Place Community Centre Planning Committee and acting co-chair Paul Young. Paul Young, director of planning and design for UBC Properties Trust (real estate development arm of the University), presented a small possible model of the project while Mr. Feeley, a campus resident and faculty member at UBC, presented possible preliminary design drawings. Mr. Young and Mr. Feeley explained that planning to date envisions a main facility (of 30,000 square feet) more than three times the size of the 9,925 square feet Old Barn Community Centre, opened in 2005. In a written interim-report tabled with the UNA board, the two committee cochairs highlighted several proposals for the centre, including the proposal for a 6,760 square foot gymnasium and attached 510 square foot performance stage. “It is the view of the committee that this configuration provides significantly more programming flexibility than smaller alternatives we considered,” they wrote. “It could, for example, be configured as one full-court basketball court, two volleyball courts, or four badminton courts; or it could be split into two with half-court basket ball, volleyball or two badminton games in either half. “The proposed configuration is short of a full-size gym by approximately 750
square feet, with the savings achieved by reducing the buffer space around the outside edges of the basketball court in a manner that will not impact player safety.” Mr. Young and Mr. Feeley indicate in their report the committee was advised the only drawback of this reduced size is that it provides little space for spectator seating. “The committee felt that spectator seating is a low priority and that this space could thus be better used elsewhere; for example, by adding a stage, as we propose.” Another highlight of the community centre plan-to-date is inclusion of four flexible programming rooms (one at 1,080 square feet and the rest at 870 square feet). Meanwhile, a proposed 2,500 square foot fitness centre would run about four times as big as the (675 square foot) fitness centre in the Old Barn. Potentially, the new community centre would also provide added space for a UBC branch of the Vancouver Public Library. Following the upcoming Open House, the committee would expect to deliver a final ‘space-plan’ report to the UNA board at its October meeting for approval. This approved plan would then guide the next phase of the project, namely architectural design, which would commence in October. The Wesbrook Place Community Centre Planning Committee was created by the UNA board to oversee the planning and construction of a community centre in Wesbrook Place. The committee reports directly to the UNA board. This was its first interim report to the board. The committee, drawn from the community, UNA staff, and various other groups with relevant expertise, consists of the following members: • Residents: Charles Menzies, Chris Finch, Frank Danielson, Fang Long, Sheldon Nathanson, Khaled Zaidalkelani, Olga Lockwood, Sharon Wu, John Fleming. • UBC: Bev Christian/Darcelle Cotton, Kavi Toor, Kera McArthur. • UNA Staff: Glendon Scott, Ralph Wells, Stephanie Nesbitt, Jan Fialkowski. • Consultant: Simon Richards. Nancy Knight, UBC associate vicepresident, planning and a UNA director, complimented the committee on its work in completing the first phase of planning for the Wesbrook Place Community Centre. At the UNA meeting, Ms. Knight said, “This centre will be a wonderful asset to the community.” As part of their work in researching ideas for the new community centre at UBC, members of the committee conducted site visits to the following community centres in the region: West Vancouver, Mount Pleasant, Creekside, False Creek, and Britannia.
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Blueberries Galore at UBC Fest In partnership with the BC Blueberry Council and UBC Bookstore, UBC Food Services presented UBC Blueberry Fest again this July outside the bookstore. Highlights included pancake breakfasts and BC blueberries by the
flat. Students also sold UBC Farm Produce, while those in attendance enjoyed different street entertainers on each of four days. Juliana Campbell of UBC Food Services, reports thousands of pounds of blueberries sold by the flat.
Customers waiting patiently in line to order from the array of blueberry treats
Chef flipping blueberry pancakes
Juicy blueberries were sold by the pound
Cakes, muffins and pancakes were among the many delicious treats
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JULY 26, 2011