Thank you!
The crew of The Proposed, Pending, Grand Duchy of Marpole give heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the people of Vancouver, who defeated the monstrous and undemocratic so-called “Villages”. You not only defeated it, but you also shook to the core the mayor and councillors of his party who originally backed the plan.
The idea of the so-called villages is dead! LOL! Even the councillors of the party who proposed it voted against the plan. Long live the citizens of Vancouver who defeated it! You are an inspiration! We, the overwhelmed citizens of the Proposed, Pending, Grand Duchy of Marpole, are especially thankful to you for inspiring us. Not only did you inspire us; one of those “villages” was on the border of the Grand Duchy, and another one was right in the middle of The Proposed, Pending, Grand Duchy of Marpole.
We hope all those who wrote or appeared in person to speak against “Villages” will keep copies of their letters and speeches, perhaps framing them too. Who knows? Maybe they will become beacons of hope – you can fight city hall! This can also be an example for those who live far away! Support your Duchy, be it your neighbourhood, community, state or even country! Support Your Duchy! Defend Your Duchy!
Backgrounder: Not unlike in other cities, if one wanted to build a new building in Vancouver, make a change to a building, or change the type of building that would be allowed, an application was made to the city and, if necessary, an application was made to change the zoning laws. That application would be advertised, including on billboards in front of the property, resulting in the citizens having a say in what their neighbourhood, their duchy, would look like.
Basically, the new proposed “village” plan—have you ever been in a village made up primarily of six - to eight-storey buildings, allowed for no input. Once passed, that would be it for public input for the entire area—all seventeen of them across the city. These villages were not small; they covered blocks. We are talking about massive changes to neighourhoods with little to no input.
Perhaps the arrogance and disregard are most clearly revealed by the city charging into neighbourhoods that do not like people charging in to change things in a massive way; this was hitherto unknown and completely unacceptable.
Why would residents of Kitsilano, where detached homes typically cost more than $2 million to $4 million, or of the 57th and Angus area, where values range from more than $3 million to $8 million, object to a series of six - to eight-storey buildings? How dare the citizens object!
Clearly, their “tidal wave of opposition” came as a complete shock to the planning department and to a city council whose majority party initially backed the plan. We thank you again and wonder: Was what you stopped more than an arrogant plan? Was it part of a hitherto unknown “Fog”? Curious, a trip was made to 16th & MacDonald, another area under attack.
The idea of a proposed hotel—with a hotel proposal, a lot of stipulations do not apply— has already asked for an increase in height is, well... The citizens of Vancouver defeated the villages—for now. Is this the beginning of the end or only the end of the beginning? We want to think it is the former but remember: Support your Duchy! Defend your Duchy!