It was not the normal sight at a District of Squamish council meeting.
On Tuesday (April 1), the council chamber was packed with hip, toque-wearing youth. They were there in a last-ditch effort to save the partially constructed skatebowl underneath the bridge to Quest University.
Although the issue wasn’t on Tuesday’s agenda, Coun. Bryan Raiser had promised to bring it back to the table after officials voted down a one-year trial of the facility at Committee of the Whole on March 25.
The bowl had become a contentious issue ever since municipal staff were alerted to its construction in January. The skatebowl was being built without permits on district property. Officials asked the project’s creators, the Skateboarders’ Mason Society, to stop and have been working with themever since.
The project has left some living near the site feeling as though they are in the dark, no more so than when council passed Raiser’s motion in a 4-3 vote — with Mayor Rob Kirkham and councillors Doug Race and Ron Sander voting against and councillors Raiser, Patricia Heintzman, Ted Prior and Susan Chapelle voting in favour.
“There was a lack of follow-up” from district officials or the society, Lindsay Nevison said, adding
Most in the neighbourhood have grave concerns regarding the project, not only about the safety of the location, but also about the effects the initially illegal project will have on their property value, she noted.
The skateboard society did invite residents to attend a meeting regarding the park, but Nevison said it should have been the group’s job to go door-to-door as they were the ones moving into the neighbourhood. Instead area residents feel as though they had to step out of the way, Nevison added.
“What happens when the park gets boring and no one goes there?” she asked, noting no one has answered questions regarding who is responsible for overseeing the project and following up on any issues that might arise.
District staff contacted neighbours to inquire whether they would support a one-year trial, Linda Glenday, general manager of development services and public works, told council.
“Every neighbour we spoke to were vehemently opposed to the one-year trial,” she said.
That fact fell on deaf ears, said Usman Valiante, who lives near the skatebowl. Council’s vote undermines the democratic process, he said, noting it gives people the freedom to break municipal rules. The district is supposed to add consistency to regulations, not listen to the loudest voices, Valiante said.
“Council has failed here,” he said.
Valiante was in the minority within the crowd that attended the meeting. Council’s vote was met with loud applause. Outside city hall, Josh Wakefield celebrated with a group of people, most with skateboards in hand. The decision will give riders a chance to dispel some of the neighbours’ fears, he said.
“It is definitely going to be something that is good for the community,” Wakefield said.
The skateboard society will continue to work with district staff, member Mike Quesnel said. The two parties will come up with a licence agreement that will aim to alleviate the concerns of neighbours, he said.
The property will now fall under park zoning, which means the municipal park rules will apply, Quesnel noted. That gives police the power to enforce parks rules in an area which was previously devoid of regulations, he added.
“We are not investing into something that and then not be good neighbours,” Quesnel said.
