Proponents amending draft master plan during ongoing discussions with Lands and Water B.C.
Adding two new golf courses to the proposed ski resort development north of Squamish may be the sticking point between its proponents and the province.
For the past six months Lands and Water B.C. has been reviewing the draft master plan for the Garibaldi at Squamish project proposed by GAS Inc.
The development calls for a four-season resort near Squamish. Along with a ski area and village developed on Brohm Ridge, the plan also includes two 18-hole golf courses, one built along Cat Lake and the other on the west side of Highway 99.
But the golf course on the west side of the highway falls outside the boundaries of the project’s study area.
"The study area that we’ve asked for is outside of those boundaries," said Mike Esler, project manager of GAS Inc.
"That’s where we’re at right now – are they (the province) going to approve in draft form the golf courses and the (expanded) study area?
"We really feel strongly we need to have a four season resort," he added.
"(We’ve) gone on to study the surrounding area and demonstrated to ourselves that there’s room, if you will, and a need for golf courses."
GAS Inc. filed its draft master plan for the development to Lands and Water B.C. at the end of April. The company is currently amending the draft master plan as they continue to have discussions with the provincial government. Esler calls the ongoing talks "positive" and said this is just part of the process when dealing with crown land.
"Any time you’re dealing with the crown it’s a negotiation process," he said."
Though the bulk of the proposed project falls on crown land, part of the project’s area is within the boundaries of the town of Squamish. As such, Squamish Mayor Ian Sutherland said the town is watching very closely how the project develops.
"They have to work through the various issues with the provincial government but as far as having two more golf courses near our town centre, I don’t have any problem with that at all," he said. "It’s another development that will bring more people into the Squamish area.
"Looking at the big picture it’s a great project for Squamish."
The original study area was defined in 1995 around the Brohm Ridge area, north of Squamish. Businessman Wolfgang Richter won the right to explore development opportunities in 1996 in a project known as Garibaldi Alpen Resorts.
His plan at one time included a ski resort with roughly 150 runs and about 1,000 metres of vertical drop. He also envisioned a slopeside village, tucked into the mountains with a mixture of hotels and single family lots. A road winding up Mount Garibaldi would be the access to the resort. Richter’s proposal also included a golf academy with a five- or six-hole course.
But his development was plagued by financial troubles and in November 2002 Vancouver businessmen Luigi Aquilini and Bob Gaglardi took controlling interest of the project, under the GAS Inc. company.
Esler said the project in terms of the village layout and the number of bed units hasn’t changed much since the takeover. He would not comment on the number of bed units proposed in the draft plan but said that was another issue currently under discussion with the province. In its draft form the GAS Inc. plans propose a resort that at buildout would cover 4,500 acres with 22 lifts.
One change from the original proposal includes the addition of a small gateway development at the highway. It would not be a major development along the highway but something that could service guests during the construction of the village as well as the extensive traffic along Highway 99.
The gateway could also serve as a geographical marker to show guests they have arrived at the entrance to the resort.
"Unlike Whistler, where you are valley orientated, ours is slopeside so it’s important to have a sense of arrival," said Esler.
Mayor Sutherland has a few concerns about this part of the project though he admits it is still a long way off in terms of being developed.
"We want to make sure that any kind of highway development is done in a proper way and we also want to make sure that we don’t have too many shopping areas away from the centre of our community," he said.
The major amendment to the project since the November takeover was the addition of the golf courses and as such, the increase in the number of acres for development.
"In our opinion it’s financially viable as submitted," said Esler.
"If it gets cut back too much, (we) would have to rethink the whole thing, so that’s the discussion we’re in.
"If the area and bed unit count gets reduced to a level that wouldn’t provide a reasonable return, then it wouldn’t work."
Esler said the proponents are in positive discussions with the province and are currently reworking parts of the draft master plan. Lands and Water B.C. will then review the plan before it is made public. Esler estimates the project will not be made public for at least another two months.
The crown could not comment on the project at the moment.
