The Garibaldi Alpen group is asking the B.C. Assets and Lands Corporation for another two year’s grace in order to meet provincial requirements for development of the ski area at Brohm Ridge which are laid out in an interim agreement with the Crown.
The province is seeking legal opinion before making a decision.
BCAL was due to meet with legal advisors to discuss the Garibaldi Alpen proposal on Thursday, May 10, said the corporation’s Charles Littledale.
He said earlier in the week he would hate to prejudge the outcome. "It could be an extension, placement or even termination."
The interim agreement, signed in February of 1997 after Wolfgang Richter’s group won the exclusive rights to proceed with planing a four-season resort on the slopes of Brohm Ridge, was valid for a four year period.
During that time the group was expected to come up with a detailed plan that shows how and when the Environmental Assessment and Commercial Alpine Ski Policy requirements will be met.
Richter also had to show that he has the financial wherewithal to follow through on the project.
The interim agreement expired Feb. 28 this year but BCAL granted Richter a 60-day extension, to April 30. In the late afternoon hours of April 30 Richter submitted a package to BCAL.
"It’s quite complicated from a legal perspective," noted Littledale. "We needed to get legal opinion on it so we bundled it up and sent it to our legal advisor."
One of the factors that needs to be weighed up by the province is the law suit faced by the Garibaldi Alpen Group, noted Littledale.
First Capital Investment is suing for just over $1.2 million for monies loaned the group.
Littledale said, to his knowledge, it is the only legal challenge currently in the works. "There was another one but he (Richter) dealt with that one."
The financing for the remainder of the planning stages of Garibaldi at Squamish project has not been wrapped up either.
"The intent is there but agreement hasn’t been reached yet," said Littledale of a prospective financing partnership. "So that is going to be part of our review."
