Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
|
May 24, 2012 - 10:47pm PT
|
Hey bear breeder your conspiracy theory may just be right, and probably a very good analogy. This may siphon off whis or grouse but if you think you can run a gas station off of siphoning gas, well, you would be a ......hmmmm. You would be errrrrrr. Never mind.
|
|
hamish f
Social climber
squamish
|
|
|
May 24, 2012 - 10:59pm PT
|
O.K., Anders, that's good work. Like you say, a slightly different circle than my interviewees.
Of particular note in this week's Chief newspaper is a letter from Meg Fellows SUPPORTING the gondola. Meg quit her position on the Squamish Environmental Committee to fight the tram a few weeks ago, to team up with the folks at FOSC (see post 942); I wonder what happened? Did Loki scare her off?
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 12:47am PT
|
How do you construe Meg Fellowes' letter as supporting the gondola? All she does is admit that she might use it, if it was built - while emphasizing that she's pro-park. Then goes on to talk about some of the larger issues. She seemed to me to be saying that Squamish doesn't need to be "just like" Whistler, and that it shouldn't think that a half-baked gondola (or any of the many other half-baked schemes that have been proposed over the years) is somehow going to be the salvation of Squamish.
http://www.squamishchief.com/article/20120524/SQUAMISH0303/305249978/-1/squamish/gondola-desperately-needed
Meg and eight others were at the the FOSC meeting last night (sorry, Bruce - forgot again!), and believe me she has little positive to say about the gondola.
(There are several other letters on the Squamish Chief website which may be of interest.) Petition now up to 308, although one person somewhat overachieved by signing three times, so that makes 306.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 01:25am PT
|
If the proposed Sea to Sky Gondola gets permission, if it gets financing, if it is built, I will use it, possibly several times a year. Given my pro-park position, call me a hypocrite if you must.
(Emphasis added.)
Seems pretty clear to me. Added to her original letter from a few weeks ago, there's no doubt as to Meg's views.
|
|
Tricouni
Mountain climber
Vancouver
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 01:39am PT
|
The gist of Meg's letter is unclear and muddied, in my reading. She says If... and If... and If... she would use it. Not a good letter, IMHO, and not good ammo for either the pro- or anti-gondola forces.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 01:50am PT
|
From the Vancouver Sun, May 8th. Verbatim.
IIRC, Meg had a letter published in the Squamish Chief on or near that day, stating what she was doing, and why.
Squamish environmentalist resigns post to oppose Sea to Sky gondola project
A prominent Squamish environmentalist has resigned her post as chair of a local conservation society to publicly oppose a proposal to build a gondola over Stawamus Chief Park.
Meg Fellowes, a former Squamish district councillor, resigned as chair of the Squamish Environment Society — which has not taken a position on the gondola proposal — last week. Fellowes said in a statement she plans to refocus her efforts on lobbying the provincial government to hold a public hearing on the proposal, joining forces with the grassroots group Friends of the Squamish Chief, which has launched an online petition to that effect.
The Sea to Sky Gondola Corp. is proposing to reclassify a 20-metre-wide, one kilometre-long swath of land in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park to enable the construction of gondola towers. The gondola would run from a base terminal on a vacant gravel pit along the Sea to Sky Highway to the top of Mount Habrich, overlooking Howe Sound.
The group proposes expanded walking trails, ticketing and retail outlets at the base and a top terminal with trails for interpretive walks, hiking, snowshoeing and mountain biking, a lodge with a restaurant and a theatre. The gondola development would employ 30 to 50 full-time staff and benefit local business by extending the stay of visitors in the Squamish area, the company website claims. The project would also help fund improvements to the park’s infrastructure, proponent Trevor Dunne said in an interview.
Pending approvals from the District of Squamish and the provincial government, the gondola would open in about a year’s time. Three quarters of the more than 70 speakers at a public meeting held late last month and hosted by the Squamish Lillooet Regional District spoke in favour of the project, proponents Dunne and David Greenfield said in a statement, adding that they are hearing strong support for the project from within the community.
Fellowes acknowledges that there are many in the community who support the project, but said there are others who don’t feel they have enough information to take a position, which illustrates the need for a more robust debate. The issue is also one that goes well beyond Squamish, as many rock climbers who live throughout Metro Vancouver care deeply about the status of the park, she added.
“There are environmental issues not only with respect to the park, but when you start pumping ... 300,000 people annually into the basin behind, it’s going to have a significant impact on biodiversity in that area.”
I didn't write the letter, but as a former councillor of Squamish, perhaps she didn't want simply to repeat what she'd already said, but talk about the bigger picture. Perhaps she could have been more emphatic in the first sentence, but that's about it.
ps A button has been set aside, just for Bruce. One each for gf, Jim B, and Hamish too. But you have to wear them.
|
|
hamish f
Social climber
squamish
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 10:21am PT
|
Oh goodie, I don't have to sit here and argue with myself anymore. Phew.
I agree that Meg's letter was pretty vague. I slanted it in the "I'm O.K. with it" catagory simply because she didn't say anything about not wanting it built. You'll notice most of the writers which don't want to see the thing built definitely say so. Pretty simple.
Anders, she doesn't say she MIGHT use it. She said she WILL use it, possibly several times a year. I can understand us workin-folk mixing up other people's words, but you're a lawyer; this is your specialty.
How many FOSC members share the two-sided mentality that both don't want the gondola but if it's built will use it? I carumba. Why are some people so bent on getting things done only to their liking?
This whole majestic Province is one massive Park. Between Vancouver and Squamish there must be twenty miles of steep, bulletproof sidehill; fill your boots.
O.K., let me have it. I'm pretty bulletproof myself.
|
|
hamish f
Social climber
squamish
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 11:00am PT
|
Ya, guess I should've had a coffee first.
|
|
RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 12:04pm PT
|
Almost makes me want to start drinking coffee.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 02:33pm PT
|
Perhaps the Squamish Chief edited out that part - it appears to be the same letter.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 03:16pm PT
|
Bruce, you were at the meeting in Britannia, where the proponent's homies praised them and the project to the high heavens. Even though many seemed to be working to a script, I felt embarrassed for them. Out-Heroding Herod, as Shakespeare put it. They may not quite have said that a gondola would be a magic bullet, but they came close.
|
|
hamish f
Social climber
squamish
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 04:29pm PT
|
"If they build it I'll use it several times per year."
It's pretty easy to see who is conflicted, it's Meg.
I'm thinking Meg's letter in the sun should've tacked on to the end her initial sentence from her letter in the Chief. Then it could've read, " bla bla bla magic bullet, but if they build it I'll use it several times a year."
A guy like Anders would have a field day with that attitude in the courtroom.
|
|
RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 07:06pm PT
|
Magic bullet is good for chopping up weed.
|
|
Hoser
climber
vancouver
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 07:34pm PT
|
Several times a year...considering its only open in summer that translates to using it every month.
She is confused.
|
|
hamish f
Social climber
squamish
|
|
|
May 25, 2012 - 08:10pm PT
|
I have no doubt Meg will use the gondola more than I will, at least until they get those bike hooks epoxied on...
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
May 27, 2012 - 01:34am PT
|
FOSC volunteers fanned out across the Chief today, insofar as it's possible to do so when there's really only one trail. Picking up the usual garbage, about 10 kg worth, mostly bottles and cans. I was surprised to find a half empty ketchup bottle - pretty unusual. Also when two people, with packs, asked if I'd take their empty plastic bottles.
Two volunteers (not me) helped hikers exercise their constitutional right to free speech, by asking that they sign a petition opposing the gondola, and requesting a transparent and defensible process. They got about 50 signatures in ten minutes, and about 80% of those who were asked, signed. An experiment - we'll obviously have to do that again, on a more organized basis. They ran out of paper.
You meet a very diverse crowd on the backside trail, but all very friendly.
Current numbers:
e-petition: 321, so allowing for couples and duplicates, perhaps 330.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/squamishchief/
 Today's Chief petitions: 45+
111 have "liked" the FOSC page
80 confirmed signatures on paper petitions in Vancouver and Squamish, perhaps more.
Considering that our FaceBook page was set up in early April, and the e-petition and paper petitions only in the last few weeks, we're doing OK. Please sign the petition, and "friend" us, asap!
So allowing for duplicates and duds, well over 500 in support, and rising. 15% or more of those signing the e-petition are from the Squamish area; we haven't tallied the paper ones yet.
ps Don't think I'd trust my bike to any epoxied on hook - bolts only for me.
|
|
hamish f
Social climber
squamish
|
|
|
May 27, 2012 - 09:55am PT
|
Well I'm glad to hear that you'd take your bike up there, Anders. We'll make sure those hooks are well fastened.
No need for petitions "pro" gondola. Word on the street is that it's a done deal.
|
|
hamish f
Social climber
squamish
|
|
|
May 27, 2012 - 11:51am PT
|
Oh Geeze Bruce. I think they're saying that their miniscule percentage of the population doesn't care to have a gondola in their viewscape. Certainly not in an area where they're used to seeing steep coastal sidehill rising out of the autobahn.
I mean, where else can you see that combination?
How do 321 signatures on an e-petition turn into 330, due to couples and duplicates? Just wondering.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
May 27, 2012 - 01:11pm PT
|
Now fellows, let's try to keep it polite, shall we? Whatever happens, we're all friends. Don't be too disappointed if things don't go as you'd like.
When the process is restarted, there'll be a proper, independent assessment of the project, full disclosure, and inclusive public meetings to discuss it. Not sales meetings or infomercials, that is. Maybe later I'll do a summary "Gondola: Myths and Facts", so it's all there.
Though there's not much need to discuss what the proponents would actually do. All they'd be committed to is building a base station, the gondola, and a top station, with little trails at the top and bottom. They'd also incidentally have to improve the Shannon Creek road. Nothing more. Maybe in three or five or ten years, if things went OK or others did it for them, they'd build other things. Maybe not.
To take an easy example, the gondola might facilitate access to Mt. Habrich - if someone works on the trails, if it starts running early enough in the morning to make it worthwhile, and if it runs late enough in the day for the trip down. It might not - and don't bet on there being a reduced rate for locals. Got it in writing?
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!