While Squamish officials are backing plans to build a skatebowl in Garibaldi Highlands, neighbourhood residents are voicing their opposition to B.C.’s public agency watchdog.
On Tuesday (June 17), District of Squamish council voted in favour of authorizing licensing agreements that pave the way for a one-year trial of a skatebowl under the Mashiter Creek bridge to Quest University. The skatebowl first caught council’s attention in January, when its builders were issued a stop work order because there were no permits in place. Since then the Skateboard Mason Association has worked with municipal staff to move the project forward, while many neighbouring residents continue to voice opposition to the project.
District staff’s attempt to meet with local residents to ask them what they wanted to see in a licence agreement were unsuccessful, municipal director of engineering Rod MacLeod said. Residents have instead decided to challenge the skatebowl through the Office of the Ombudsperson, he noted.
Meanwhile, district staff ironed out a licence that includes a security deposit of $5,000 and outlines a pathway and signage to the skatebowl. It calls for district staff to monitor the cleanliness of the site twice a week.
Municipal staff is also examining the possibility of placing a portable toilet near the location, MacLeod said.
“Construction would start as soon as the building permits are in place,” he said.
Councillors Ron Sander and Doug Race and Mayor Rob Kirkham followed the same voting pattern that they have throughout the history of the skatebowl, voting against its completion. Clearly, the neighbours don’t welcome the project into the area, Sander said.
“This is so wrong on so many levels,” he said.
The skatebowl is being built in the wrong location, Race said.
“This is out of sight, out of mind,” he said.
Squamish youth are using that area with or without a skatebowl, Coun. Ted Prior said, noting he’s confident with the decision to move forward the one-year trial.
