_ Province sets up a commission to study i issue THE PROVINCIAL govern- ment has established a special commission to create a long- overdue master plan for Cypress Provincial Park. By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter The most recent attempt to define a master plan was quietly suspended in 1993. The pianning process turned controversial as the private ski operatcr in the park locked horns with B.C. Parks officials over mas- _ter plan proposals. Cypress Bowl Recreations Ltd. (CBRL), wants to expand 100 hectares (247 acres) outside its 600- hectare (1,482-acre) permit area in the 3,000-hectare (7,410-acrej park. The. plan is opposed by local envi- ronmental and hiking groups. Said. newly-appointed special “commissioner Bryan Williams on ..Monday, “I'm going in open- “mind- ed, not vacant-minded.” . Williams, a West Vancouver res- ident, is a lawyer and mediator who chaired a provincial park wilderness advisory committee in the 1980s. The committee. produced the ~ Wilderness Mosai¢ ‘report, which ‘made recommendaticns concerning i president | --Recreation Council of ‘B.C. chair- -’ man Mark Angelo and engineer Ken Transportation {6 proposed parks and eight park boundaries around B.C. Williams will be advised on the Cypress Park planning commission by Silver Star Mountain Resort John. Gow; Farquharson, who hasia parks and _ tecreation background, “The commission wili take an estimated three months to develop a “master. plan recommendation for - Cypress park. | Williams asked for advisors with ~ knowledge of both sides in: the. Cypress park dispute. The Cypress inter-ministry, advi- sory committee consists of 13 peo- “:ple’who work: in: B.C.Parks; B.C. : Investment; B.C. Lands; Housing, Recreation and Consumer Services; Municipal ... «Affairs; | B.C. Environment; and the Land Use co- “ordination. office’ of ‘Government Services and: Small. Business, Tourism and Culture. J ”, West: Vancouver-Garibaldi : Independent. MLA’ David Mitchell represents the riding which is home Outdoor | ‘and . Highways; - WEST VANCOUVER Garibaldi MLA David Mitchell questions independence of commission. to the Class A provincial park. He said the Environment, Lands and Parks Ministry should have been able to come up with a master plan without having to appoint a special committee. * “The appointment of this group has the opportunity to bring some closure to the issue; on the other hand, there will be some skepticism in:the community that this is just another delay,” said Mitchell. He said an advisory committee made up of provincial bureaucrats raises questions about the commis- sion’s independence. Mitchell said most: constituents in his riding who have voiced their “opinion have told him they are opposed to commercial expansion in the park. “One of the larger. things that needs to be reviewed,” Mitchell said, “is whether or not the whole issue of privatization of operations in provincial parks has been a suc- cess and whether it should contin- ” ue. He said there doesn’t seem to be ° controversy in other provincial . parks, such as Mount Seymour and Manning parks, which have private operators working within park boundaries. The public has been left in the ‘dark about the future of Cypress _ Provincial Park for more than iwo years. CBRL launched a civil lawsuit in January against the. provincial gov- emment and provincial and regional park officials. mews briefs som fire “A FIRE early Thursday morning, which District of North ~: Vancouver Fire Services said was set by an arsonist, is now under investigation by the RCMP. -. The fire department was alerted to the blaze by a. -, neighbor, who‘also warned the resident of the burning " house located in the 3200-block of Teanyson Crescent. - A fire department spokesman said the 4:23 a.m. blaze started outside and burned the exterior and roof of the : house. The living room suffered smoke damage. * Damage was estimated at $15,000. : itmess sought ; A 17-year-old West. Vancouver resident was treated in: hospital for injuries sustained after being struck by a -vehicte in Park Royal South at approximately a 10 p.m. on May 28. - ‘A woman helped by driving the victim to the clinic -, across the street. The victim later received treatment in Lions Gate Hospital for a concussion and abrasions to his lower back. West Vancouver Police have asked the helpful woman and other witnesses to contact police at 922-4141. The lawsuit Wleges that officials conspired to destroy CBRL's $50 iillion master plan, which would have expanded its conmmercial ski- ing operation. But in a statement of defence, parks ministry officials claim CBRL failed to meet its obligation to pre- sem a omiister plan exploring all alternatives for development within its permit area. CBRL has also complained to the ombudsman about the adminis- tration of iis agreement with B.C. Parks. The company drew park users into the dispute in January when it began charging park users a fee for crossing its permit area into the public park. CBRL president Wayne Booth, who was unavailable for comment to press time, said in January that the fees were the “reality of no expansion." CBRL paid $500,000 in 1984 for a 50-year lease to operate the park's ski facilities. The ski area had been run by the provincial government since the mid-1970s. Williams said he doesn't know how much money the ¢ ‘ommission is slated to spend, / Public meetings vill likely be held in July and a recommendation for a Cypress master plan will be submitted to the government by the end of August.’ Previously submitted proposals and letters from the public will be reviewed, said Williams. “We want public input,” he added, RAC ES FACTORY FUTON Entrance in sear Mon.-Sal. 11-6 pm Sunday 12-5 pm FUTON BLOWOUT! mw, O97 aie Includes sone pine sofa nedftame, triple foom cofe futon, Scotchquarded uton cover. pillows and pillow covers. While quantities tnst, 259 E. Ist St.. W.Van 384-4504 | tw ) MIRA PIDLUBE $ WARRANTY APPROVED * Ol! 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