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Open house inspires much debate over proposed Whistler International Campus

Council will consider rezoning proposed site of school at Dec. 3 meeting
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Photo courtesy of Whistler International Campus

Weeks ahead of council's consideration of a rezoning application for the proposed site of the Whistler International Campus (WIC), the project's proponents held an information session that inspired spirited discussion from those in attendance.

Over 60 people, including Whistler's mayor and several members of council, came out to Millennium Place Wednesday, Nov. 13 to have any lingering questions or concerns addressed surrounding the 31-hectare proposal.

"I felt good about the turnout, and I thought there were some very good questions asked," said project leader Doug Player. "It certainly indicated that the community is interested, and overall we felt pretty good about the support that was expressed to us about getting on with the process."

In a speech that spanned more than 25 minutes, Player outlined the potential economic benefits of the project, saying the campus would help to diversify the resort economy, increase Whistler's tax base, - he estimated that construction alone would provide nearly $2.3 million in direct, indirect and induced municipal taxes - provide jobs to the community, and opportunities for local businesses. Third-party consultants hired by the proponents predicted the school's 1,400 students would result in $32 million in annual spending in Whistler.

With several educational partners on board, including the University of Northern B.C. and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, who have agreed to deliver courses on campus, WIC will offer a diverse post-secondary experience for students, according to proponents.

So far, courses in tourism, business, environmental sciences, sports management, First Nations preparation and programs, culinary arts and executive training have been discussed for the school. Both diploma and degree programs would be offered, said Player.

"I share the vision," said open house attendee David McKinnon, a recent SFU graduate.

"It sounds like the professional focus (in the proposed programs) is one that's responsive to the market, which is reasonable. I'm happy they seem open to the idea of expanding into more theoretical programs."

Player is hopeful the school would eventually offer more courses in liberal arts, if approved.

Critics of the campus proposal have cited the developmentā€™s potential impact on sensitive wetlands located on the site, currently known as the Zen Lands, a large parcel located across Highway 99 from the entrance to Spring Creek.

The proponents want to focus development on the uplands only, and claim that campus facilities and related infrastructure would occupy only 30 per cent of the campus land base. The proposed buildings would take up eight per cent of the land, said Player. The remaining land would remain in its natural state, with wetlands protected and forest maintained.

AWARE executive director Claire Ruddy, who attended Wednesday's meeting, is opposed to major development on the ecologically sensitive land.

"The uplands and the wetlands have this symbiotic relationship, and what you do on the uplands affects the wetlands," she said, noting that over 70 per cent of Whistler's valley bottom wetlands have been lost. "We're talking about putting up to a million square feet of developed space concentrated on the uplands, 1,400 students plus 407 staff, and the impact of that; the people, the cars, the litter, the snow-clearing activities on site, the run-off control you would need, the removal of nutrient flow into the wetlands, are just some of the issues that would arise with this kind of development proposal."

A number of environmental impact studies have been conducted at the Zen Lands dating back to the 1990s, including a 2011 assessment by noted wetlands expert Philip Dearden, who voiced support for the campus project, followed by an assessment last year by Cascade Environmental - an update to an earlier study in 2005.

"We're not saying there's no impact. There is impact with all of the types of development," said Jonathan Turner, who previously surveyed the site with Cascade. "I think (the proponents) done the best they can with the type of land they have to align the activity areas with protecting environmental values."

Cascade was on site for a total 14 days for both studies, although much of that work was done before the university proposal came to light. If the project moves forward, Ruddy said further study is necessary to determine "the year-round representation of the habitat value and biodiversity of the site."

Sustainability and environmental studies students at WIC would work to protect the sensitive ecological site, Player said, as well rehabilitate other areas, such as Spring Creek.

Real estate broker Craig Mackenzie was vocal about some of his lingering concerns surrounding the proposed $270-million project at the meeting, saying Whistler doesn't have the capacity to support the influx of students and university staff.

"We're loading that road south of the valley with 2,000 more people, so when somebody wants to come from Vancouver to ski Whistler, they have to traverse this really busy stretch of road between Function Junction and the Village, and I think that has a negative impact on the visitor experience," he said.

WIC proponents intend to commission a traffic management study if the project is approved.

Mackenzie questioned whether Whistler's sewage treatment plant could handle the additional waste, although Player noted that the university is prepared to process up to 50 per cent of its own sewage on site. Mackenzie also had doubts about housing capacity.

"Some people will come out of the Whistler fabric to work there, but I would bet there's over 400 new employees that will have to be housed in the valley, and that's a subsidy that we the people of Whistler will have to pay for," he said.

Earlier this month council rejected a last-minute request from WIC proponents to meet behind closed doors to go over their business plan. Several council members said the information should not be kept from the public, rejecting Player's request to go in camera. Municipal staff refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement with proponents.

Player said he's more than happy to share the full plan with the RMOW if the controversial rezoning application on the Dec. 3 council agenda is approved.

"I know of no other proponent that's been asked for this stuff," he said.

Oka Holdings Ltd. is privately financing the project, Player said at Wednesday's session.

Of particular issue for Player is a $150,000 line item in the RMOW's recent Economic Partnership Initiative Report set aside to pursue educational opportunities.

"It was recognized that there may be some start-up costs that we might want to participate in," Chief Administrative Officer Mike Furey said at a Nov. 5 council meeting.

No educational institution has been named by Municipal Hall.

When asked whether he believes the start-up funds have already been dedicated to a particular institution or initiative, Player said: "There's no question in my mind that (the municipality's) been talking to others in secret. That's fine, we're not mutually exclusive, we know what will attract people.

"I don't think we can have done anything more than what we've done to say this is a viable, real project of tremendous benefit to the municipality," he added.

For more information, or to get involved with the WIC project, visit www.whistlerinternationalcampus.com.