Critics charge that
expansion proposal in
conflict with mandate

A’ RARE public hearing on the issue of
expanding ski facilities at Cypress Bowl,
B.C.‘s most. popular provincial park, drew
over 250 concemed citizens to a day-long
‘open house and public meeting at the new
Vancouver Public Library Saturday.

* By Kate Zimmerman
Contributing Writer

“The main reason we’ re here today is because
“we want to hear from you,” special commissioner
Bryan Williams — who must file a park master
“plan to cabinet by Aug. 31 — told the crowd.

. And hear from them he and his three advisers
-did,-as major presenters and then interest group
, after interest group presented views on the pro-
" posed expansion, punctuated by sometimes indig-

nant — and occasionally cynical — comments and .. .

'

questions from the public.
“There should be no commercial operations at

all j ina provincial park,” Amy Newton- McCann

told the meeting. :
ee Newton-McCann, . who | rents a cabin on
‘Hollybum Mountain, noted that the proposals for
the area don’t include an option for B.C. Parks to
decide against further development; neither is there
- an option for the government to demand that the
. area already developed be restored.
~ :!In 1984, Cypress Bowl Recreations Limited
(CBRL) signed a $500,000, 50-year renewable
“+ agreement with the province’s Social Credit gov-
emment to take over the money-losing ski area and
develop recreation facilities in the Class A provin-
bio cial park..

“CBRL'S controversial 1992. Master Céncept
Plan proposes what is now a $50-million renova-
‘tion and expansion that would add another 100

hectares (247 acres) to the existing 600-hectare
“+ (1,482-acre) permit area and more than double the
park's commercial ski capacity.

-This would include cutting down.

21 hectares (52:acres) of old-growth.
;to build. downhill ski nins‘ on
Hollybum mountain’ which is, now:
kc as aie . :

. The plan also entails:

e adding lifts to those already extant:
e on Black’and Strachan mountains; |:

, BA expanding the cross-country : ski.

trails in the area of Hollyburn Ridge

-and ‘adding an, ‘arena, skating . rink,

and expanded snowplay area:

@ building. a. restaurant’ on Mt.

” Strachan «Plateau. which would be
“accessible by a gondola i ‘in the sum-:
Srmery

‘B expanding parking lots and build-

ings'in the downhill and cross- coun:
by ski areas.:

“CBRL has long: claimed that it

‘cannot afford to upgrade its current
facilities ‘unless it can ‘increase ’:the

number of downhill skiers using the

park. .

: Meanwhile, a newsletter put out
by the Friends of Cypress Provincial’

Park’ and distributed at the open’

house: calls -Hollyburn’ Mountain “the ast easily '

accessible, undeveloped mountain on Vancouver's
North Shore «.
significant old -growth forests, subalpine meadows,
. lakes, streams and mountain-top plateaus...”
“There is no question that Cypress Provincial

> Park is a jewel in the crown’ of our provincial parks -

system,” botanist and former North Shore resident
Maggie Paquette, author of Parks of British

‘Courielliors defend nerasise

. is nota very comfortable position; * said Bell, adding

4 From page 1

. Its diverse natural features include:

NEWS photo Mike Wekeflotd

CYPRESS BOWL'S 1952 Master Concept Plan proposes a $50-million renovation that
would more than double the park's commercial ski ‘capacity. |

Columbia & the Yukon, told the commissioner and
advisers. “It has a mandate to conserve and protect
its regionally and_ nationally significant resources,
and to ‘provide “year-round recreational opportunt-
ties for visitors.”

According to. a new report prepared for speci rn

commissioner Williams by Don Behn of Juan de
Fuca’:Environmental: Consultants, some. of - the

“province's oldest and largest trees are found on the

west slopes of Hollyburn mountain.
The, report. maintains that the proposed ski

“development would not only cause direct losses of
. these trees but would also fragment the old-growth

forest, which would affect its climate in terms of

-wind, temperature and humidity and thereby .influ-
* ence its micro-climate.

Behn’s report also points out that rare species of
plants and animals, including the spotted owl, and

vulnerable species, such as, the Vaux’s swift and -
-Cooper’s hawk, have been spotted in the area of the

suggested expansion.
Williams and advisers John Gow, Mark Angelo
and Ken Farquarson presided over Saturday's

event. Some questions from the-floor went unane
swered because CBRL is currently engaged in a

civil suit with B.C. Parks.

The company claims it has been trying to
expand for seven years but has been thwarted by
Parks employees who have developed an alternate
plan.

CBRL. s presentation at the meeting was made -
by four men: president-and general:
manager Wayne Booth, independent
planning consultant Ken Youds, vice-
president -
Planning Don Murray, and ‘Talisman
Land Resource Consultants’ Paul
Christie. ~ j

Though the detewiation claimed. it,
was dedicuted to environmental con-"
servation and
Vancouver, hiker — trene..: Miller
denounced Christie's attitude: to the
effects of the expansion on the old-
growth forest as “cavalier”:

“We want our old- growth forest
protected,” -she ‘said forcefully. at!
which the crowd clapped. / ;

B.C. Parks representative . Colin

‘Campbell, who with’ Parks’ Ray
Peterson aiso made a presentation to.
the 1 meeting. described’ Cypress as
“part of the. scenic: rim that defines
.. Vancouver.”
He ‘called. the ‘park a. “special
“place.” remarking on. the fact. that -
1,500-year-old trees “are flourishing -
20 minutes from the downtown core
ofa | major North American city. «:

‘Lynn Webster, past president of the North Shore '
Hikers, shared Campbell's apparent. reverence for.’
Cypress. In her aftemmoon presentation, she said’
conservation must take precedence over recreation
in the provincial park. .

: “There should be no further commercial expan-

See Cy ypress Page 12

of Ecosign Mountain -

rehabilitation, :'

. ‘the 11% figure w was arrived: at by using a complicated for:

mula devised by the city in. 1991. The formula, in use:
bétween 1991 and 1993, is based on four factors and is:
Meant to ‘replace the councillors’ ability to negotiate their :

;, Own compensation package. :
: The. factors —~ population, current tax levy, assessed
value and debt —— were abandoned in 1994 in favor of a

more’ straight-forward’ increase based on inflation —a

S38 6% pay hike.
“Coun. Bill Bell defended the i increase by pointing out
that the issue of indemnity levels. has been coming up
nnually during his whole 10-year council career and the
establishment ofa formula was meant to alleviate, not cre-
“ate, difficulties. .,
: wl fi ind it distasteful that we have to Set ¢ our own salaries

that using the formula can result in a pay decrease as well
as an increase. “We're not doing it out of spite.” he said. -

Coun. Darrell Mussatto, who voted! against the
increase, warmed that keeping the indemnity level low

may. result in keeping potential quality candidates from

running for office.

“T don’t think $18,000 is a hell of a lot considering the:

time we put in.” said Mussatto. |,
Coun. “Stella Jo Dean also voted agains! the increase
saying “it just looks bad.” -
“don’t go with the idea’.
wasn't our choice,” said Dean.
scionable, really that if they (CUPE) got 0%, we got 1%.

that we have a formula so it

, Mayor Jack Loucks, -who_ initially supported the °F
increase, changed his mind after comparing indemnity , ' '
2 levels in comparably sized municipalities. :

“L think it was. uncon- .

+

Ti 1E FRIENDS of Cypress
Provincial Park Society is d
200-member. '- non-profit:
organization dedicated’ to
the “protection of park val- ;
ues” at Cypress. oy

According to vice-chairman
Alex Wallace. the five-year-old.
group's members include truck
drivers, lawyers and - botanists
who share concems over con- -
“servation of and accessibility to
the park.’ :

The society, which: meets.
monthly, has drawn up a list of
recommendations for a .new
master. plan that members feel

_ would protect Cypress’ Class A
Park values, : :
The group suggests that the
“new/ master plan, which special
commissioner Bryan Williams
is Supposed to present to cabi-
net by Aug. 31 should:

81 preserve the park’s: natural -
environment, special natural ©
habitats, and special features,

_ prohibit. expansion of the

“existing commercig}: recreation
permit area:

B permit ‘renovationlteplace-
ment ‘of existing “commercial '
facilities, but allow no further
destruction of the park's natural
environment; :
restore year-round free" .
access to public parkland: .

@ establish a year-round bal-
ance among forms of recreation
appropriate to the park for per-

“sons of all ages and abilities; :
@ provide .for improvement of.
hiking trails; -
@ provide for effective BC’
Parks control and presence in
the park,: including interpretive.
programs;
& establish a long-term, B.C.:
Parks-administered Te-vegeta- |,
tion | program for damaged.
parkland: : Sr os
i provide for adequate publicl:
owned sanitary. facilities;
W@ establish’ a standing: public
advisory) committee... that

_ includes Fecognized park user
groups; oes : .

“HB ensure access to” the park.
through adjacent municipalities; .
(i. encourage “an expanded -°
bus/shuttle transportation sys-
tem to: Holiyburn Ridge/
Cypress. Bowl. . ;

The . Friends * of Cypress :
Provincial Park Society may be
reached by calling 922-7949 or
739-4559, .

nw Kate Zimmerman

Surve of 1995

Council Indemnities

City ‘of North Van
District of North Van’
West Vancouver.
Port Moody :

Port Coquitlam

New Westminster

- $56,13650"...
($59,430 00°
$51,000

» $54,000

$50,676

af a I

Mayor Councillors:

* $18,712"
$19,810.
$17,000 ~°
$14,250"
$14,634 °°
$16,704.

$43, 902