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SLRD passes bylaw some perceived as attack on GAS

Regional Growth Strategy will no longer have destination resort language
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A rendering of how Garibalidi at Squamish may look.

The green light has been given to a bylaw that many have interpreted as a shot against the proposed Garibaldi at Squamish resort on Brohm Ridge.

Regional Growth Strategy Amendment Bylaw No. 1514-2017 has passed third reading and adoption, meaning that it is now in effect.

“In the end, the board felt this amendment provides clarity — that there are no lands in the regional district zoned ‘destination resort,’” Jack Crompton, chair of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District told The Chief just after the vote.

Crompton said the board approved the motion unanimously.

This bylaw removes destination resort language from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s Regional Growth Strategy, or RGS, a high-level document that outlines how future development in the regional district should take place.

Extracting destination resort language from that document has been perceived by many as a move that would impose a barrier to the moving ahead of Garibaldi at Squamish, or GAS, an all-seasons resort anticipated to bring tens of thousands of recreation seekers to Brohm Ridge.

The motion comes shortly after a contentious public hearing in Squamish on Feb. 19. There were some in the audience concerned the SLRD would not listen to arguments in favour of the proposed resort.

“My experience working with the SLRD board is that they take the input they receive very seriously and consider it very deeply,” Crompton said, addressing those sentiments.

“This amendment is no different. I respect the people around that table and believe strongly that they considered the input and made... the decision they thought best.”

Crompton said that removing the language would actually clarify that there isn’t any land zoned in the regional district to accommodate such project.

He added the RGS speaks of how land is zoned presently but isn’t a comment on how land may be zoned in the future.

Crompton further emphasized that a decision has yet to be made about zoning the land GAS wants to build on. This will happen further down the road.

“GAS has engaged in a provincial process that is in no way directed by the RGS,” Crompton explained.

“We have been told by the province that local government will have final say. There may be a point in the future where [the proposal will go before] a local government, and at that point ...they will make a zoning decision.”

The destination resort has its share of supporters and detractors and has been a contentious issue for those in Squamish for quite some time.

Some argue that it will bring a myriad of economic benefits to town, such as jobs and development. A number of small business owners, a race organizer and the Squamish Nation spoke in favour of GAS during the public hearing on Feb. 19.

Indeed, during that public hearing, supporters of the project dominated the conversation with long, drawn-out arguments for why it should proceed. Some also said that as a resort municipality, Whistler has an interest in stifling the GAS project. It was also pointed out the regional district is chaired by a Whistler politician.

On the other hand, opponents of GAS — who therefore are in favour of the RGS amendment — believe the resort would create overcrowding, traffic problems, unaffordable housing, low-paying ‘McJobs,’ environmental degradation and be a drain on a local aquifer.

Many of the people who spoke out against GAS were Squamish residents. The Black Tusk Snowmobile Club voiced its opposition, and one resident of Paradise Valley declared she had more than 200 signatures from people against the proposal.

In general, the SLRD has expressed opposition to the GAS project in the past.

In total, Whistler has two representatives on the regional district board. Squamish also has two. The bylaw was passed during an unweighted all vote, meaning that both municipalities had equal voting power — one vote per representative.

Representatives from Lillooet, Pemberton and the unincorporated rural areas surrounding all municipalities in the area are also voting members of the board.

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