Slappy wrote:Alternatively I wonder if it isn't time to give up the Spit all together and focus on getting something that can handle 200 concurrent kiters at Nexen while there is still time before the developers squeeze us out of that access.
The new Nexen will be very shitty for windsports:
* Not nearly enough space (especially for kiters)
* Not nearly enough parking, and no parking for more than 2 hours anywhere within walking distance (especially a problem for windsurfers, doubly so for those visiting)
* Windsports launch and sailing area is within future water airport exclusion area (as new regulations come into force in 1 or 2 years)
Here's
a glimpse of the council's vision for Nexen:
> District council is hoping Oceanfront Squamish will become a pedestrian-centric community
> Council also added that over time, they would like to see vehicles on those roads phased out
And, if you read the news piece, they apparently have been considering letting the stratas own the roads in Nexen. Let that sink in, how crazy it is to even consider private roads as an option for this area, let alone this late in its development. They're completely out of touch.
The council is giving windsports exactly zero consideration when it comes to Nexen. They're building a sterile downtown tourist trap. There's a lot of real estate money involved in keeping it that way and unsuitable for us. They are fine if a dozen kites act as a tourist attraction but they don't need us for anything else.
Should we try to press them about windsports at Nexen? Yes, or they'll forget that they promised a windsports beach at all. But not at the cost of giving up on spit / 3rd ave / alternative access. Alternative windsports access is a must have.
If the new Nexen beach remains our only access, windsports in Squamish will gradually die out. And a smaller community will be even more defenseless, perpetually one stroke of a pen away from being banned or made completely infeasible.
They're destroying windsports from all angles – spit, nexen, water airport – and we need to fight back on all those angles, otherwise we'll be left with nothing.