THE Richmond Environmental Concern Group (RECG) has expressed concerns about the rezoning of 8140 No. 5 Road to make way for a 70 foot tall Buddhist temple.

The rezoning was approved May 22 by Richmond’s city council.

Days prior to the vote, RECG issued a statement, objecting that the proposed “massive structure” will attract a “volume of  people and traffic  that the local infrastructure does not  support.  

“That’s why  the building codes are there – and the faith groups that built before all abide by the  original by-laws, without exceptions.”

Further, the statement claimed: “Monster structures and houses  are  bad ideas for Greater Vancouver . . . It affects harmony.  It is done with self-interest. It cannot be accepted by the local residents.”

RECG spokesperson Stephen Cheung told BCCN  that he and his colleagues “were surprised at how quickly and quietly the Buddhists were able to get the approval.”

Cheung added: “The city councillors just embraced development.” Religion, he said, was not a factor in the discussion.

His group’s main concern, he said, was that “the public was left in the dark.” The vote “is going to mean that other structures can go to 70 feet.”

– DFD

June 2007