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Whitecaps $31-million Delta Training Centre Dead
Seems like Delta is taking aim at the dubious title of most nimby municipality in the region. Instead of getting the benefits of a large soccer facility largely funded by the Whitecaps, they now have chosen to go at it alone with a much scaled down version paid for by local taxpayers. Is it something in the air that makes this region's politicians so stupid?
From the Vancouver Sun:
METRO VANCOUVER -- A deal with the Vancouver Whitecaps to develop John Oliver Park in Delta into a soccer centre is dead.
Delta civic politicians approved a staff report Monday night that scuttles a tentative agreement, paving the way for Delta to create its own master plan for the East Delta park.
"We put a lot of effort into working with the Whitecaps, work we're now going to turn into something positive for the community," said parks and recreation director Ken Kuntz.
"Really, I think it's time to move in a different direction," Kuntz told Delta council.
Rather than a project that would have seen the lion's share of the 20-hectare (51-acre) park turned over to the Whitecaps for a $31 million National Soccer Training Centre, the new plan would see Delta develop the entire site, likely through a combination of soccer/football fields and ball diamonds as well as a clubhouse.
Chief administrative officer George Harvie said the municipality has $5 million in reserves to spend on the project, which he hopes to begin work on as early as next year.
The Whitecaps initially approached Delta almost three years ago with the idea of creating a soccer complex at the junction of highways 10 and 91. The two sides came to a tentative agreement, eventually signing a memorandum of understanding, but it was never finalized despite three extensions to the deadline.
Kuntz said council refused the Whitecaps' request for an extension of the Jan. 15 deadline, effectively killing the deal and prompting the municipality to move forward with alternate plans.
Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said the club is disappointed with Delta's decision.
He said the organization requested the extensions because it felt it needed a bit more time to determine if the offer that was on the table would be financially viable.
Harvie said the Whitecaps originally wanted the entire park, but were told Delta couldn't displace the existing user groups. He said Delta required three fields to at least maintain current community use, which still would have provided the Whitecaps with sufficient space for fields, a clubhouse and other facilities.
Kuntz said the negotiation process ran into some difficulties after the provincial government and the Whitecaps announced significant funding for the project before any deal had been signed.
During last spring's provincial election campaign, Premier Gordon Campbell pledged $17.5 million toward the project if the Liberals were re-elected. Lenarduzzi said the Whitecaps have still been talking to the province about the funding, which was committed for a soccer training centre.
"We are still talking to the government and certainly that is still the plan," he said. "We will still be pursuing a national training centre."
Without going into details, Lenarduzzi said other municipalities interested in hosting the centre have approached the organization.
"There is no ill will towards Delta and we both have to move on at this time," he said.
The agreement would have seen the Whitecaps lease the site for $200,000 annually or provide $5 million up front in return for 25 years of lease-free tenancy.
Delta would have used the lump sum to redevelop its portion of the park with artificial turf fields.
The municipality acquired four smaller parcels adjacent to the existing park last year to increase the site's footprint and allow for greater sports field development.
Council sent the issue to the parks and recreation commission to devise a master plan for the park.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
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I think they want something with multiple fields though. They're thinking for the future and trying to secure a "national" training centre for the entire country. This is more than just a Whitecaps training ground.
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