First it was the Village of Pemberton, and now the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has approved a Pemberton Music Festival application for a temporary use permit (TUP).
Music festival organizers want to make use of seven pieces of property outside the VOP boundary. They include a parcel owned by Olympian Ashleigh McIvor. Cousin Cam McIvor is working as an agent for the festival as a representative of the primary festival landowner, Sunstone Ridge Developments. He submitted documents to the SLRD indicating the event organizers want to use the seven properties for RV camping, tent camping and parking.
The application was discussed at the SLRD meeting on Monday, April 28.
The music festival organizers wanted a three-year TUP. The SLRD staff suggested the elected representatives on the SLRD board grant a one-year TUP.
Whistler's SLRD representative, Jack Crompton, said the board had a good discussion about the permit.
"There was a debate about whether to give a one-year TUP followed by a potential three-year TUP or giving a three-year TUP followed by a three-year permit," said Crompton.
Just as Pemberton council did last month, the SLRD board chose the shorter option.
Maureen Douglas was brought in by the festival organizers to help with the event's planning. She said many festival details are still very much in the pre-planning phase. Douglas is working on the communication plan, which is being developed in consultation with agencies like the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the RCMP, Vancouver Coastal Health and BC Ambulance.
"Once we get through all these waves of meetings, essentially we'll be pushing really hard on public information," Douglas said.
Douglas was able to share one detail about festival employment opportunities.
"We're doing a job fair in both Pemberton Village and Mount Currie on May 24," she said.
The first half of the job fair will take place at the Pemberton and District Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The second half is set for the Ull'us Community Complex in Mount Currie from 2 to 5 p.m.
She added that more details on the job fair would be released closer to the date as the event organizers determine how many workers will be needed and other employment details.
The information filed with the SLRD shows that 12,000 camping sites measuring 10 feet by 15 feet are needed before, during and after the festival, which runs July 18 and 20. Campers will be encouraged to arrive early and have until noon on July 21 to depart. The details submitted by the festival organizers also show that Huka Entertainment has entered into a five-year deal with Sunstone Ridge.
Marijuana bylaws move ahead
The regional district leaders also passed a series of resolutions on medical marijuana regulations.
Crompton said there was no discussion on the second reading of the Official Community Plan and zoning amendments.
The bylaw changes impact the form and character of medical marijuana production facilities. Before the bylaw changes are finalized, public hearings will be held in Areas A, B and C so anyone can share feedback on the bylaw changes with elected officials before the changes are finalized.
