Former members of Vancouver's Board of Variance, who were fired last week, say it was a political move by city council.

 The five board members, who heard appeals from people who disagree with Vancouver council's land-use decisions, were axed so council could appoint a more pro-development group to handle the pre-Olympic building boom, former board member Ray Thomlin said.

"With the record pace of development in the city," he said, "I think the present city council wanted to clear the decks and assure the development community there would be no public oversight body."

Thomlin pointed out that the firing happened just a day after the board issued a ruling against against a marina project in False Creek.

"I think it sends a clear message to developers in the city that the city is open for business, and that developers can put forward whatever they damn well please, and there'll be no community oversight board," he said.

Vancouver councillor Peter Ladner maintained the board was fired because it refused to bring legal and administrative spending under control.

He said money spent on overtime for staff was a particular concern, and noted the board was 48 per cent over its legal budget last year.

But former board chairman Terry Martin said legal fees were never discussed with city officials, adding the board had cut its administrative costs by $8,500.