Squamish towers would hide famous climbing area, critics complain

The District of Squamish will vote Tuesday night on a developer's proposal to build three highrise towers that critics say will block the view of the Stawamus Chief rock face one of North America's most famous rock climbing areas.

Pridham Developments is seeking conditional approval to build a housing development for 3,500 people on the old Interfor mill site, about 50 kilometres north of Vancouver between downtown Squamish and the Stawamus Chief Mountain.

The proposal for the 21-hectare site includes a marina and three condominium towers, the highest spanning 20 storeys. The towers would be the three tallest buildings in town.

Peter Harker, a spokesman for the Squamish Downtown Neighbourhood Association, said Monday that the largest tower would obstruct the view of the Stawamus Chief's towering granite rock face, a local landmark.

"The Chief is the second biggest granitic feature in the world and people come from all over the world to climb it," Harker said on Monday.

"The development isn't the problem. It's the towers. It's that 20-storey tower where clearly there hasn't been any community process. The community's never been asked about it," said Hawker.

Mayor says public meetings held; 28 groups consulted

The mayor of Squamish, Ian Sutherland, said the accusation was not true. He saidthe developer has held more public meetings than the law requires, adding that the meetings have been well attended. He also pointed out thatthere is a final public hearing Tuesday evening before council votes on the proposal.

Sutherland said the proposal has supporters in the community.

"There are people who want to sell homes, and downsize to a place like this," said Sutherland.

Pridham Development also e-mailed CBC News, writing the company has consulted about the proposal with 28 different groups ranging from B.C.'s Ministry of Transportation to the local watershed society.