The proposed all seasons resort Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS) has hit another substantial roadblock during the District of Squamish Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday (March 24). The district has recommended that water supply issues be resolved before Environmental Assessment certification is given.
"It is not clear that the water supply issues have been dealt with at this point. We feel there is simply not enough information for the EA certificate to be issued," said Mike Gottardi, District of Squamish manager of community development.
Feedback to the Environmental Assessment Office was provided in a letter criticizing plans to extract water from two on-sight rivers that serve as tributaries to the Brohm River.
Brohm was this week named fifth on the list of B.C.'s most endangered rivers by a coalition of Canada and U.S. environmental groups. The group points to GAS as the reason the river made the list.
"Brohm Creek is a jewel amongst steelhead streams and yet, there remains much uncertainty as to whether the planned development will incorporate the steps needed to properly care for this very significant river," stated Mark Angelo, chair of both the Rivers Institute at BCIT and the Outdoor Recreation Council Rivers Committee in a news release.
The proposal would pump Brohm River to sustain the 22,000 bed units and snowmaking required by the resort.
Gottardi said the annual water supply for the resort would be extracted over two months and stored in two on-site reservoirs. The water would then be treated and used to supply potable water to the resort.
"This seems risky because things happen that could jeopardize their ability to extract water," Gottardi said. "And their contingency plan is not well researched."
Brohm River is home to steelhead and salmon populations.
"I am afraid it appears the water supply issue has been downplayed. The issue is their ability to take water out of the rivers and whether the wells deliver a full water supply to the resort," Gottardi said.
Grants in Aid requests balloon
Council received over $173,00 in grant-in-aid requests from a host of community groups. The amount requested exceeds the $65,853 dolled out in 2008.
A total of 14 community groups presented their funding requests at the committee of the whole meeting. The Squamish Senior Citizens Home Society asked for the highest amount, $32,829,42 to assist increased hydro charges. The Howe Sound Women's Centre asked for $25,000 to assist with operational costs. Many community programs run at a deficit.
Tara Franz, interim executive director of the Howe Sound Women's Centre said the drop-in centre runs on donations and fundraising efforts. For others such as the Squamish Food Bank $15,000 dollars is needed just to keep the doors open.
Ralph Hughes, district manager of finance, said council has some tough decisions ahead. Even the Squamish Community Foundation, which was created to replace the grant-in-aid process, is asking for $15,000
"Even the legacy money is not quite enough because interest rates are down. We also fund extra things such as the Howe Sound Women's Centre, which used to be funded by the province," Hughes said.
Established in 2003, the Squamish Community Foundation manages over $300,000 in donor funds and distributes income to registered charities for community projects.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said supporting the foundation makes sense as a way to shift grant-in-aid decisions away from council.
"As long as we support the foundation then it works better for everyone," Lonsdale said. "But we need to work together to make sure it works."
After sitting through many presentations, Greg Fischer, president of the Downtown Business Improvement Association (BIA), withdrew his request for $4,000 to fund Canada Day celebrations.
Instead Fischer asked for in-kind donations such as waiving facility rental fees and relying on volunteer hours from council members.
"If you would be willing to come pour the beer and man the booths, then we request you give the $4,000 to needy groups," Fischer said.
Council is entering the budget process, which will determine how much money will be given in grant-in-aid for 2009.
A strip mall for Squamish
Long time local and developer Wilf Dowad wants to build a tourist commercial facility with residential units on 1.33 hectares of property bisected by Hop Ranch Creek and bordered by Highway 99.
The land is currently zoned rural residential and would need to be designated as highway commercial to allow for the project.
According to a staff report, the proposed project includes a two-storey tourist commercial development with services such as a food court, realty offices, tourist information, Internet café, public washrooms, laundry facility, lounge and emergency services. Up to 15 small suites are also included.
"Staff has a number of concerns and recommend that council refuse to process this application any further," said Chris Bishop, district planner.
Bishop said the proposed project presents a number of policy implications. The land is in the flood hazard area, vehicle access is limited and the project does not support sustainable growth outlined in the Official Community Plan (OCP). He said the development might also compromise the sensitive aquatic habitat of Hop Ranch Creek.
In a staff report, Bishop said the project moves the community off its committed path as stated by both current and proposed policy. He said strip commercial development is all too common to many communities that are bisected by roads such as Highway 99.
"The concept put forward is inconsistent with almost all municipal policy direction and underlying public sentiment regarding highway commercial development," Bishop said.
Dowad disagrees and said his project is a good option for land that would otherwise remain unused. He said it's clear the land is not appropriate for agricultural uses.
"I gave my application in August 2007 and it has been "leap-frogged" by numerous other projects," Dowad said. "They have stalled it too long."
If the land is not used for a strip mall, Gardner said he is curious about alternatives for the parcel.
"I am interested in hearing thoughts on how to approach a piece of land like this because residential zoning along the highway is not ideal either," Gardner said.
Council committed to a dialogue about the merits of the proposed project at a committee of the whole meeting in the near future.
