12 July 2006
Whitecaps Stadium Given Planning Go-Ahead
Vancouver British Columbia - The Vancouver Whitecaps soccer
organization can continue to dream about building a new stadium on a controversial site in the city's Gastown district (over the CPR
tracks), as long as certain key challenges can be addressed.
After hearing from opponents and detractors of the $70-million project, Vancouver City Council voted yesterday to allow the
soccer club to continue with the planning process for the downtown stadium.
Despite opposition from Gastown residents, city council agreed that a mid-sized stadium is a "highly desired amenity
for the city, with the potential to provide a venue for major sporting, cultural and community events."
The unanimous decision means Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot has been given the option to try to overcome some of the significant hurdles,
which could still stall development and force the soccer club to choose an alternative site.
"What we now have is an opportunity to create a spectacular landmark for the city of Vancouver and the country," said
Whitecaps director of soccer operations Bob Lenarduzzi. Believing it has outgrown its existing home - the 5,700-seat
Swangard Stadium in Burnaby - the team wants to move to a new downtown location in order to attract more fans to its United Soccer
League games.
It is getting the opportunity even though a report by city planners warned that the proposed 15,000-seat stadium faces
substantial hurdles before it could move to any future rezoning and planning process.
Most of the hurdles relate to the fact that the Whitecaps organization is planning to build the stadium over an existing railway, near
Gastown heritage buildings, and close to the city's waterfront area.
In order to get development permission, the Whitecaps must come up with a plan to deal with the lack of an adequate road network for
crowd dispersal and emergency access. It must also deal with the fact that the stadium will sit on a podium over the top of existing
railway tracks. Still, Mr. Lenarduzzi said he is confident that those problems can be overcome.
A spokeswoman for residents of Gastown and the Downtown Eastside said she was disappointed by the decision to allow the project to
proceed. "We are not opposed to soccer, we just believe that the stadium is in the wrong location," said Caryn Duncan, of the
Central Waterfront Coalition, whose members live and work in the downtown area. "They need to find a new location for this
stadium."
Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan said yesterday's city council decision means the soccer club has been given a road map that will enable it
to work with city staff to address related issues.
The stadium plan will be subject to quarterly reviews by city planners, and it could take up to two years before the club gets the green
light to build the stadium.
The decision to allow the Whitecaps to proceed was made after council heard from 83 speakers; about half were opposed to development.
"I think this is a spectacular location," said Vancouver Councillor Suzanne Anton. However, she warned that the Whitecaps are
very far from reaching the finish line with their proposal. "We are just sitting on the bench or the sidelines, tying up our
boots," she said.
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