With one approval in the bucket, the Sea to Sky Gondola has three more to go.
On Tuesday (Nov. 15), the District of Squamish council unanimously supported third reading of a proposal to run a cable tram 2,700 feet up a ridge below Mount Habrich. Coun. Doug Race noted the overwhelming support the project received at a public hearing a week earlier.
"I think it is an absolute win for our community," he said. "Common sense tells me it will certainly benefit the downtown community."
Coun. Patricia Heintzman asked district staff why the proponents were not asked to contribute a community amenity, a question that arose at the public hearing.
Staff said it is not customary to go after such an amenity for a commercial venture. Amenities are based on property value derived from the rezoning, which was not substantial in this proposal, Race added.
"I look at this project as providing amenities inherently," he said.
The proponent, GroundEffects, anticipates the project will provide 20 to 50 full-time staff positions. The draft includes retail space, a café and interactive theatre at the top of the lift, which runs between the Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls. GroundEffects estimates the gondola will draw approximately 300,000 visitors annually.
Although the district rezoning and OCP amendment for the base terminal land is a pivotal step, the project still has more processes to complete, said Trevor Dunn said, principal of GroundEffects.
"We've got lots of work ahead of us," he said.
Currently, GroundEffects has applications in with the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, B.C. Parks and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources. Squamish council's decision is a great indication of support for the proposal, Dunn said. He is hopeful the district's approval will provide solid backing for the gondola.
"We are really excited," Dunn said.
