A new citizens group called the Jericho Coalition is opposed to the number of towers and overall density planned for the Jericho Lands. Its members have united to fight the current plan that calls for 60 towers for the site, some with up to 40 storeys.

The group complains of the City of Vancouver’s flawed process as planners worked behind closed doors, failing to share with residents specifics regarding size and density of the project. If approved, the massive plan would house 20,000 residents. The Jericho Coalition has asked Vancouver residents to help them convince the City to reject the plan by completing a petition and demanding the City engage with residents to create a new plan that would consider appropriate scale and density.

The Jericho Lands are owned by a consortium of three First Nations – the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tseil-Waututh – and Canada Lands Company (a federal Crown Corporation).

The Jericho Coalition has many concerns about the current plan, including:

• The majority of residences will be luxury suites, and few will be affordable to most people
• Very few residences will be family-oriented
• Towers will be built from concrete and steel, which will create a huge carbon footprint and contravene the City’s pledge to go green
• Traffic congestion with up to 20,000 new people added to the area, with more on-street parking, and the effects of the increased population on nearby Jericho Park and beaches.