District of Squamish officials have signed a key document that paves the way to construction of the proposed Sea to Sky Gondola.
Municipal officials recently finalized a development agreement setting out the technical servicing of the 6.17-acre base site and community commitments. The agreement, along with rezoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment, will be presented to council for final approval on Tuesday (Feb. 7).
In November, the rezoning and OCP amendment for the plan to run a cable tram 2,700 feet up a ridge below Mount Habrich received unanimous support at third reading from Squamish council. Since then, the proponent, GroundEffects, has gathered studies required for permits needed from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), B.C. Parks and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources.
"Our ability to actually develop on the base area lands (within the District of Squamish jurisdiction) are still contingent on us securing these other approvals," said David Greenfield, the principal of GroundEffects.
SLRD officials have received and commented on the proposal. Greenfield anticipates the project will be before the regional district board for first and second reading in late February, with a public hearing in March.
The gondola's alignment has been determined, Greenfield noted. This allows GroundEffects to complete more extensive studies required to obtain the provincial go-ahead. The company has examined vegetation and animal habitats that may be affected by the construction and operation of the gondola. So far nothing insurmountable has been discovered, Greenfield said.
"All of the findings that we have had are pretty normal," he said. "Some of the work will need to be deferred until spring when the snow leaves the ground."
If everything goes according to plan, the gondola should open in the summer of 2013, Greenfield said. He aims to have all the approvals in place by June or July of this year and start construction this fall.
Delays, although unwanted, won't kill the project, Greenfield said.
"We feel we got a lot of momentum and support at this time and it is going to be a big job creator for Squamish," he said. "So the sooner we can kind of get this into the ground the better it is going to be for all of us."
GroundEffects estimates the gondola will draw up to 300,000 visitors annually. Greenfield anticipates the project will provide 20 to 50 full-time staff positions. The draft includes retail space, a cafÉ and an interactive theatre.
