The indoor facility that its Vancouver-based proponent is touting as a national climbing centre is sparking debate among community members and climbers.
Slated as the centerpiece of a mixed-use development near the base of the Stawamus Chief, the climbing centre would be a great fit for Squamish, the Kingswood Group said in a statement issued on Tuesday (March 8).
The question in the climbing community, though, has become whether the climbing centre will justify the high-density development that is part of the proposed mixed-use development.
Im caught between the idea of having a world-class climbing centre in Squamish which I think could be a good thing and the issue of high-density development in the Blind Channel area, said John Howe, who was invited to be part of the developments design review group.
Clearly, the community has concerns about this development.
The development firms proposed mixed-use development for the 8.3-acre site includes three components a retail section, an institutional section (for the climbing centre) and a residential section for 388 townhome units.
The Kingswood statement said the retail component would be focused on climbing and outdoor recreation, and the housing would be designed to be compatible with Squamish's Official Community Plan.
Thats contingent on being granted rezoning by District of Squamish council, which hasnt seen the plan yet.
Kingswood Group hasnt had success convincing council of its development plans in the past. In 2008 its highly contested residential development Red Point, proposed for the Upper Mamquam Blind Channel, failed to get third reading, after which a Kingswood official expressed frustration over the decision.
As a Hospital Hill resident, a well-respected climber and a longtime search and rescue manager, Howe isnt jumping for joy yet.
He has attended one meeting representing Squamish Search and Rescue, because a proposed aspect of the centre is a facility for training for rescue techniques. But he said the preliminary information is very, very vague at this point.
What is a national climbing centre? I dont really know what that means and I dont think the proponents do either, he said.
So that needs to be flushed out by the group before any of us can get a good feeling on how this thing will work.
Howe isnt the only skeptical resident.
Stphane Perron sees the national climbing centre as an idea dreamed up by developers to push their condo development through.
I would be more comfortable with the idea if a national climbing centre was part of a strategic plan for tourism development in Squamish, and this developer was offering to build it, he wrote on The Chief website.
Other residents are concerned about increased traffic in the Hospital Hill area and overriding the Adventure Centres purpose.
According to proposal spokesperson John Moonen, the 5,000-square-foot centre would feature an indoor climbing wall, offices for local, provincial or national climbing organizations, climbing-related research and educational programs and a base camp for climbers and guides.
He also mentioned incorporating a climbing museum, an idea Moonen said stemmed from meeting with local climbers.
The National Climbing Centre puts the focus on Squamish's abundance of natural advantages. It can be the catalyst that leads the community to solidify its reputation as the Outdoor Recreational Capital of Canada and a mecca for climbing, Moonen said.
The centre and the proposed mixed-use development clearly embrace the objectives of the Official Community Plan (OCP), he said in the Kingswood statement. In particular, this proposed development will create a dynamic focal point for the area further elevating Squamish as a world-class tourist destination for recreational travellers.
The centre would be situated on the company's Scott Crescent site along Highway 99. The site includes the recently purchased former DeCooke property and the Carney property as well. Landowner Owen Carney has agreed to let them use the property if the proposal goes ahead, Moonen said.
Moonen said the idea is to eventually establish a community-based, not-for-profit society to administer the centre.
The proponents have already met with representatives of the local climbing community, tourism officials, educators and retailers and consultant Jeff Creighton has composed a consulting and design review group to bring the centre to its full potential.
Creightons company designs, builds and consults for climbing facilities and asked local climbing guides to be part of the committee.
Everybody in the group is a climber, so were all speaking the same language, said Creighton, who said is a passionate climber and a climbing guide.
Im very excited about it because I know a lot of people have been talking about doing something there for a very long time, he said.
It sounds too good to be true, but it looks like its happening and I would say its going to be one of the top facilities in B.C., probably in Canada, he said.
He said having an indoor gym in Squamish would be a perk for professional climbers to keep climbing in the winter months and also an ideal learning spot for those who are just beginning.
Its much easier to approach a climbing facility than it is to approach a cliff, he said. I think a lot of people forget what its like on that first day, that its actually really intimidating.
Among those who have been consulted is Will Stanhope, international climber and Squamish rock guide.
The Climbing Centre is shaping up to be a state-of-the-art facility, he said in the statement. When complete, it will accommodate the most chalk-splattered rock veteran to the fresh-faced beginner. I am excited that climbers like me were consulted by the project team, giving us an opportunity to help usher in a facility that meshes community, climbing and adventure.
George Chang, owner of Pause Caf and Karin's Kitchen Corner, added, Adding another tourist attraction to Squamish such as a National Climbing Centre which will be visible and accessible from the highway and our downtown will be terrific bonus to this area encouraging new people to stop, shop and play in Squamish.
