Lululemon founder Chip Wilson's enormous dock proposal angers neighbours

Chip Wilson, the billionaire founder of Lululemon, is making waves in a quiet harbour on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast, where he's applied to build a dock bigger than some houses.

Wilson owns a large waterfront property north of Sechelt, B.C., where he wants to build a 2,500-square-footdock.

• Readers weigh in on controversy on social media

Ten neighbours have sent letters of concern to the district about the plan, worried what such a large structure would do to wildlife, and their own serenity.

"The thought of having something destroy even a tiny part of that for really quite selfish reasons is devastating to think about," said Meghan Smith, who lives two properties down from Wilson and likes to snorkel in the area.

"What [is] allowing this bizarrely crazy idea to get this far?"

Endangered birds, boater safety concerns raised

The proposed structure could accommodate a 14-metre yacht, two seven-metreboats, plus smaller vessels and seaplane landings, according to documents filed with the Sunshine Coast Regional District.

The plan also includes a 3,000-square-footbreakwater to protect the dock from incoming waves, especially during winter storms.

"It's a large facility, it's not something we normally see," said district official Frank Mauro.

Neighbours are concerned that such large boats and seaplanes will make the harbour dangerous for paddlers and swimmers.

They also worry the large structure will hurt an eelgrass meadow that's a feeding ground for the marbled murrelet, an endangered bird.

Documents submitted on Wilson's behalf argue those concerns have been mitigated, and that "the dock was realigned specifically to avoid adverse impact on the eelgrass bed."

A representative for Wilson told CBC News he declined to comment while the application was pending.

The regional district has forwarded its concerns to the B.C. government, which makes the final decision.

MAP: Approximate location of Chip Wilson's proposed dock