A longer version of this letter was sent to B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and MLA Joan McIntyre and copied to The Chief.
This email is to register my objection to the proposed development - Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS).
I trust that you will listen to the majority of citizens in this corridor who are against this project rather than to just a few entrenched business and development interests.
This proposed project is the antithesis of "good development," of "sustainable development," of so-called "smart growth".
It is contrary to the Official Community Plan's overall vision. It should not be supported in any way by any level of government.
The reasons for not supporting this project are numerous:
1) In the broadest sense it contradicts all the principles of sound, good development, sustainable development, sustainability, and even smart growth. Moreover, it is contrary to the intent of the Official Community Plan (OCP).
2) It contributes to the worst type of urban sprawl in an area that is deemed "wilderness" and attracts visitors/residents/tourists because of its beauty. Why is it deemed necessary to pave over every bit of nature? And meanwhile eliminate the recreation areas - including trails - enjoyed by locals and visitors alike?
3.a) It adds to the ever increasing diminution of wildlife habitat and hence biodiversity, which is already under tremendous threat by all the development (including the expanded highway which provides no bridges or tunnels for wildlife along its length) that has occurred in the past few years along this corridor.
3.b) In this context it will severely affect what is well known as a habitat and home for
steelhead - and other water inhabitants. As these are reduced, due to the depletion of waters by draw-off by this proposed huge community, the eagle population in the not too distant future will be reduced severely since its food source will disappear. And there goes a major contributor of tourists and their dollars (or yen or Euros). As it is, Brohm Creek, where much of the damage would occur, is already listed by the province as an endangered body of water (fifth of endangered rivers).
4) It substantially adds to global warming due to its expanded carbon footprint as a result of the sheer scale of the project and the resultant denuding of the local terrain of carbon-absorbing trees and foliage. It might be argued that this can be partly offset by "carbon offsets," but to a large extent carbon offsets are a "cop-out" since they do not replace that which is destroyed or is irreplaceable.
I trust that you will not support this project and will listen to the majority of citizens who understand the far-reaching detrimental impacts that it will have on this beautiful area.
Theodora Carroll
Squamish
