From: Judy Williams &lt;<a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=6SY5QptFHUz5DUxjiQq_KlBmpwZ25LXnYEK2stPWl5K7CzZK3_09Z9mSQQaOnR-ie86U8ES83L8vI3_1miTU>judyw@wreckbeach.org</a>&gt;=20 Press Release Regarding UBC Board of Governors' Vote<br> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>JANUARY 30, 2006<br>=20<br>January 26, 2006, with characteristic disregard for environmental=20 concerns and the governance role of the Greater Vancouver Regional=20 District (GVRD), the UBC Board of Governors defied a recent GVRD=20 Staff request to lower the remaining two Marine Student Residence=20 towers to 16 storeys in order for the towers to be compliant with=20 several GVRD resolutions adopted last year. (See attached GVRD=20 resolutions). The Governors gave unanimous Board 2 approval to=20 controversial Phase 2 of the Marine Student Residences which=20 included two towers of 18 and 17 storeys, respectively (See text of=20 UBC resolution attached).=20=20<br>=20 &quot;The simple fact is that only the GVRD can determine if the towers=20 are in compliance with the Official Community Plan. UBC had no=20 business pronouncing its development to be consistent with the OCP=20 by usurping GVRD jurisdiction over planning in Electoral District A=20 in which Wreck Beach lies,&quot; said Judy Williams, Chair, Wreck Beach=20 Preservation Society (WBPS).&quot;Please keep in mind that it is solely=20 and wholly within the authority and jurisdiction of the GVRD to=20 determine compliance with the OCP (a GVRD bylaw),&quot; Williams said.<br>=20<br>&quot;Now that the UBC Board has approved this phase, we are concerned=20 that UBC will expeditiously proceed to issue itself a building=20 permit, with all its attendant obligations. This could happen before=20 the GVRD Board has had an opportunity to review the current design=20 at its February meeting, in light of its impact on Pacific Spirit=20 Regional Park, and the fierce public opposition to it. We are=20 gratified that the GVRD Board of Directors on January 27 directed=20 its Staff to bring back a full report to the February Board=20 meeting,&quot; Williams added.<br>=20<br>UBC fails to acknowledge the voices of over 6000 students who signed=20 petitions protesting the towers rising above the treeline. They also=20 are ignoring 1,155 protest letters received from concerned people=20 worldwide regarding this matter. If the UBC towers are not=20 lowered, and GVRD parkland stewards do not call UBC's bluff, UBC's=20 environmental obscenities will continue.<br> {AANR-NW editor's note: The following are NOT attached.}<br>For your information, please find attached copies of several GVRD=20 resolutions concerning this matter. Those resolutions set out=20 restrictions on the design of the proposed development, and=20 prescribe methods for resolving any outstanding issues and concerns.=20<br>Also, please find attached a letter from Tourism Vancouver.=20=20 Finally, the full text of the UBC resolution passed by the Board of=20 Governors January 26th is also attached. We hope this information=20 will give you a sense of the controversy and public concern over=20 this matter.<br>=20 CONTACTS<br>Judy Williams, Chair,WBPS=20=20=20=20=20=20=20 Home: 604-856-9598 Cell: 604-308-6336 = =20<br>James Loewen, Vice Chair, WBPS Home: 604-689-9697<br>=20 {NOT attched} Attachment #1: GVRD resolutions on the matter Attachment #2: Tourism Vancouver letter Attachment #3: UBC BoG resolution of January 26, 2006<br><br><br><br> </td>