There has been talk of a new ski resort project planned just North of Squamish on Brohm Ridge. Currently, the project is named Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS), but is yet to be renamed.
"One Main Village is proposed, with hotels, restaurants and commercial spaces that will serve visitors and residents alike. Our priority is to ensure the needs of local families and businesses are considered during the design process"
- Rod MacLeod, Vice President Planning (GAS)
This $3.5 billion project recently released their master plan, which includes details regarding many environmental and economic issues that citizens may have. This project is set to promote long-term economic growth in Squamish, by creating 4029 new jobs for local citizens in the area. With this project in place, it'll accumulate tax revenues, and year-round tourism that further contribute to Squamish's economy. GAS will also be the only ski resort in British Columbia that attains an Enviromental Assessment Certificate to be one of the most environmentally-friendly resort.
As of right now, the project still requires consultation from the District of Squamish on extending their jurisdictional boundaries, and also the provincial government's Mountain Resorts Branch to approve the use of public land for this project. This agreement stage is expected to last until 2020, which is then followed by preliminary planning/designs until 2022, and finally complete by 2025.
A Resort Like Whistler?
The resort size is expected to be somewhere in the middle of North Shore ski hills, and Whistler Blackcomb, but at a much more affordable price than Whistler. They wish to achieve 1635 acres of skiable terrain, 131 trails, 21 lifts, 17,538 visitor capacity, and around 22,000 beds for accomodation by the year 2040. They wish to keep 80% of the land dedicated to green-space, leaving them undisturbed, or transformed into natural trails.
As stated, they are currently still in the negotiation/discussion stage, where they really need the voices of BC residents heard. You can voice your opinion on this new project on their website by filling out their survey.
Resources:
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/garibaldi-at-squamish-ski-resort-february-2019-project-update
https://www.garibaldiatsquamish.ca/
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/2019/02/12/ski-resort-garibaldi-squamish-five-years/
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