Photo: Gagandeep Ghuman
By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Aug 9, 2013
Mike Sedon has been waiting for over twenty years to build a hanger at the Squamish airport, and his wait continues.
The district won’t allow a building permit as the airport falls under its Cheekeye Fan Terrain Hazard Policy.
The policy document, created from a provincial study of landslide hazards, restricts development of permanent buildings in the area.
Last year, however, the district lent some hope to tenants like Sedon who owns the Blacktusk Helicopter, and Colette Morin, who runs Glacier Air.
In July last year, the district said it would engage a consultant to assess whether the Cheekeye Fan Policy could be amended or waived to facilitate long-term leases.
The district also had a quid pro quo in mind: The district would aim to provide long term leases if the airport tenants would pitch in money for a water line.
Sedon said he has told the district he is willing to pitch in, but has yet to hear back from them.
District spokesperson Christina Moore said the district is waiting for the KWL study.
“Once the KWL report has been completed, then we would be in a position to address the operator’s request for long term leases,” Moore said.
“At issue is how the report will address the Cheekeye Fan Hazard Policy to mitigate the hazard to the airport.”
That brings airport operators like Colette and Sedon back to a monthly lease.
It will only create more instability in business, says Morin.
“There are four businesses that employ people in decent jobs and they get nothing but instability.” Colette Morin
Lack of a long term leases means Morin won’t be able to do any upgrades to the building.
She can’t use her existing business as collateral to get a loan, she says.
“I have hundreds of thousands tied up in buildings and equipment, but I can’t use any of that for my financial security,” she said.
“I have been here for 12 years and it’s the same promise we have been getting.”
Long term leases for the airport, tied with building permits and lack of water services, has been a long standing issue.
In the 1990s, a Seattle-based carrier planned to introduce regular service to Squamish, but the plan wasn’t approved.
An engineering firm by the name of Dayton and Knight had suggested three years ago that on-site mitigation could be done, but it could cost the district to do so.
jeff Berkley says
The residents of Brackendale were fervent in their opposition to airport development that would increase air traffic. We organized an effective campaign to stave off airport development in the past. I doubt if the residents have changed their minds on the subject. Financial success of an airport is typically proportional to traffic. If upgrades and investment in infrastructure rise then pressure to achieve return on investment also rise.
Dave says
Those whose houses were in place before the airport was built have my sympathy and I understand their concern about future expansion but those who chose to live there afterwards, taking advantage of lower priced property in moving there, do not. This is similar to those who moved to North Yards and now are complaining about train whistles and shunting the middle of the night. Do your research before you move and live with whatever situation you find if you still decide to live there. We need a viable airport here to serve the needs of an expanding community.
Anyway, right now, the lady only wants some hangers to properly house and maintain the existing aircraft. Don’t extrapolate!
I like planes flying over my house…maybe I should move to Brackendale 🙂
jeff Berkley says
The airstrip was created for and by the Squamish Flying Club. There was strong controversy among the the residents at the time. The assertion was that it was just an airstrip for the club and residents did not have to worry that it would grow into something larger. For many more years people bought and built in Brackendale with the understanding that it was a flying club not an airport. Because of Cheekeye fan issues and public opposition it still does not qualify as an airport.
Dave says
Well Jeff, I guess we can put it down to lack of foresight in a rapid changing modern world! There are countless airports in the world that once started as flying clubs.
Look back on the Squamish Valley then and now for some perspective.
Given this, I would suggest you don’t invite your friends to settle in Brackendale given the possible eventual outcome.
jeff Berkley says
I guess “possible eventual outcomes” pretty much covers it all. I wouldn’t want to be the one choosing to build a business on such shaky ground. I’ve been here 20 years and the airstrip has changed very little.