District of Squamish council took a unanimous and decisive stand against the Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS) project this week, requesting that the Ministry of Environment deny the project the environmental certificate it needs to proceed.
"[The district] requests that the [environmental assessment] report recommend an approval, conditional or otherwise, not be issued for the GAS proposal in its current form," states a council-endorsed letter to be sent to the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).
Planning director Cameron Chalmers presented a staff recommendation echoing the project's rejection.
"The district has invested significant time and energy into defining a sustainable and smart growth based community," he said. "At this point staff are not in concurrence that the environmental assessment meets those requirements."
A prolonged and oft-delayed Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) report to Environment Minister Barry Penner will be submitted within the next month, and Squamish council's comments will be added to the report.
Every member of council supported a strongly-worded letter drafted by chief administrative officer Kevin Ramsay requesting the certificate's denial based on an analysis of a 100-plus page draft EAO report, which was not released to the public.
"The report clearly implies that despite having been provided ample opportunity, the proponent has not met the expectations, or perhaps even the requirements, of the Environmental Assessment (EA) process," it states.
Based on the understanding the project would only proceed under the municipality's governance, the letter cites concerns with the "speculative nature of the socio-economic materials provided for this project," calling the applicants assumptions extremely optimistic.
It also outlines a number of specific concerns over potentially detrimental environmental effects on water supply, fish and fish habitat, wildlife and wildlife habitat and vegetation.
And Squamish's dedication to the regional growth strategy, smart growth and sustainability is incongruous with the principals incorporated into the project, states the letter.
Councillors agreed that although the project received widespread community support in the 1990s, the size, scope and scale of its current inception goes well beyond the original proposal.
Today's proponents also did not do enough to solicit community input, as did proponents of the past, said Coun. Doug Race.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale agreed.
"Many of us have been saying for a long time to the proponents 'You need to get in tune and touch with this community," she said. "You need to sit down, you need to listen."
Coun. Paul Lalli said he wasn't against the GAS type of development, but the way it's been handled.
"From an economic viewpoint I would like to see some sort of resort development because I believe in job creation," said Lalli. "But the lack of information on water supply is too much."
However, he said, he sympathizes with the proponents who have put a great deal of effort into the proposal.
Coun. Rob Kirkham commended staff for making it clear that the District of Squamish also does not approve of granting conditional approval, which he said is a possibility.
"The only reason they would grant a conditional is that they don't have the information they should have," said Kirkham. "So with this report we are making it clear that prior to making any decision they should have all those details."
Coun. Bryan Raiser said he was extremely happy to finally be given an opportunity to send a clear message.
And Coun. Patricia Heintzman moved to endorse staff's letter right away.
"I would move that we would endorse staff's letter as substantially as necessary, meaning any slight changes needed are fine," said Heintzman. "There's simply not enough information out there in our minds to grant the certificate and this outlines those concerns very clearly."
Council also unanimously supported a short and concise document reiterating the concerns outlined in the letter, while pointing out that the District of Squamish is supportive of tourism initiatives.
The resolution was carried unanimously and Mayor Greg Gardner commended council for "keeping an open mind throughout the process."
He also reminded everyone present that the final decision on GAS will be made by cabinet ministers and all council can do is send this clear message.
