Langara motion a ‘smokescreen’ for development
Mayor Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver want to redevelop the public Langara Golf Course into a public park.
The plan is still in its early stages with the passage of a Visionbacked motion calling on the city to work with the park board on “options and financial analysis for transitioning the Langara golf course lands into a public park with restored wetlands and ecosystems, trail network, sports fields and a track and field facility that adheres to international competition standards.”
“Council approved motion to ask @ParkBoard to consider transitioning some of Langara Golf Course into public park, natural ecosystem and sports fields,” said Robertson said in a tweet.
A city news release also noted Langara College lacks sports fields for their teams, South Vancouver lacks cricket and kabaddi facilities for its growing South Asian population and Vancouver is without a track and field facility that adheres to international standards — three needs that could potentially be addressed by repurposing some of Langara Golf Course’s lands.
NPA Coun. George Affleck voiced his displeasure on Twitter.
“Vision took a simple drainage report and turned it into a monster motion to redevelop Langara Golf Course. No chance for public input. No chance for analysis. No discussion with park board.”
But staff analysis is continuing and so far the motion is only to begin talks with the park board. At the park board, the plan is sure to face opposition.
“I believe this move by Vision, to try to repurpose park land by hijacking a drainage remediation report, is a smokescreen,” said Vancouver park board commissioner Sarah Kirby-Yung, also with NPA. “Vision is not suggesting this to repurpose park space. They are doing it to reappropriate valuable green space for housing.”
In 2012, the city floated the possibility of converting all or part of Langara Golf Course into a park or a housing development. It was met with heavy opposition.
Malcolm Ashford, then a park board commissioner, was opposed. He said it was a lazy way to create park space.
This position was echoed by John Coupar, the only current commissioner who was also serving the last time the idea came up.
“Our golf courses are not just golf courses,” he said in 2012. “They’re natural environments that are used by a lot of the community. So people are very protective of that space.”