Editor’s note: An unedited version of this letter was sent to the regional district and copied to The Chief.
I just wanted to voice my strong opposition to the Garibaldi at Squamish resort project. There are many things we could do to extend infrastructure and bring tourism to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, building a ski resort on a ridge that is just barely above snow-line isn’t one of them.
I’m a skier myself and have spent lots of time up on Brohm Ridge ski-touring in the winter. In terms of actual downhill skiing, any skiable terrain above snow-line would essentially involve super short runs — maybe 30 turns, a complete joke in terms of resort potential.
Moreover, climate change sadly means any snow that is there right now may be gone in 15 years’ time.
I think the bottom line is that the GAS developer is trying to build townhouses, not a ski resort. To be blunt, it feels like a land-grab disguised as a ski resort. As I’m sure you’re aware, under the current resort-municipality guidelines, the amount of housing a resort can build is [somewhat] dependent on lift capacity. I’m sure this is why the GAS proposal has 20 ski lifts on the ridge — the more lifts, the more homes.
If we let go of the notion of it being a feasible ski resort, and think of it as a housing development, I would like to pose the question of whether it is a development that would be good for the community and the district? All the services and infrastructure required to have houses way up on the mountain — it seems like the least sustainable way to evolve this community. The Squamish OCP talks about avoiding sprawl, increasing density and connectivity of our community; GAS feels like the antithesis of all of our community values and OCP vision.
If we want to encourage recreation and tourism, we should be protecting our natural beauty, not building houses in the alpine — this likely means fighting for Brohm Ridge to be eventually protected as a recreation destination and part of Garibaldi Provincial Park, similar to Paul Ridge (Elfin Lakes). Elfin Lakes and Paul Ridge have become a huge year-round recreation destination, bringing so much tourism money to Squamish and the SLRD; simply maintaining and plowing the access road and parking lots is all it takes.
As board members I trust that you are prudent to investigate the realities and motives behind the facade of the GAS project marketing, and hope that you help us build toward a vision of a sustainable community with meaningful investment in tourism and recreation.
Max Bitel
Squamish
