BANFF – New development and use guidelines for Sunshine Village includes a second gondola from the base to the village, a permanent day lodge at Goat’s Eye, development of more lifts and terrain and additional commercial space.
The draft site guidelines propose permanent growth limits beyond what currently exist – an 8,500 daily skier capacity beyond the current 6,000, an additional 2,000 to 3,600 square metres of commercial space at the village and another 80 hectares of ski terrain.
One of the more contentious issues in the draft guidelines released last week by Parks Canada is expansion of parking at the base – something the ski resort has been fighting for given the existing lot that accommodates about 1,700 vehicles is often full.
Parks Canada would allow a multi-level parkade or a terrace along the north edge of the current parking lot to deal with the growing number of skiers at the hill, often forced to park on the lower half of the access road during peak times.
On the other hand, Sunshine believes this is insufficient for its future needs and has proposed an expansion of the main lot and development of a number of satellite parking lots along or at the bottom of the access road.
Parks Canada officials say expansion of the parking area, either upslope into the Healy Creek wildlife corridor or further down the valley, is constrained by steep, narrow avalanche-prone valleys, unstable slopes, stream habitats, and wildlife movement routes.
Sheila Luey, acting superintendent for Banff National Park, said comments from the public and Indigenous groups will be considered in making a decision as to whether Sunshine’s parking proposal will be included in the final site guidelines.
“Not withstanding the fact it doesn’t conform to current policy, they merit careful consideration and that’s our intent,” she said.
Dave Riley, Sunshine’s chief operating officer, said that, based on a preliminary review, Sunshine believes there are better options for mutually desirable long-term goals to provide exceptional visitor experiences, maintain ecological integrity and ensure business sustainability.
“We will provide a full response with detailed recommendations once our review is complete through our own website to help skiers and snowboarders understand how Parks Canada’s plan will affect their future,” said Riley in a statement.
Anne-Marie Syslak, executive director of the Southern Alberta chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), said the group has not yet had a chance to fully go through the draft site guidelines.
She said CPAWS, in particular, would pay close attention to water issues, parking and summer use.
“As with any proposed development in a national park, you have to look at cumulative impacts of that development on the whole of the ecosystem,” she said. “We’re not opposed to downhill skiing in a national park, but these aren’t just ski areas, these are ski areas within the context of a national park.”
The site guidelines call for a lease reduction in four areas considered to be environmentally important, including the Healy Creek wildlife corridor, even though Parks Canada currently has total control over the land anyway.
Within the reconfigured lease boundary, there is the possibility of developing up to 80 hectares of additional skiable terrain, including Wolverine and Lookout, in addition to short in-fill runs and glades in other locations.
Outside the existing developed area is the potential to develop ski terrain and lifts at Hayes Hill, Goat’s Eye II and lower Meadow Park – but this development can only occur subject to the lease reduction.
In addition, there is also consideration of a second gondola from the base area to Goat’s Eye and Upper Village, as well as widening and reconfiguration of the ski-out for safety reasons.
The guidelines also speak to the potential of two new surface runoff water reservoirs for snowmaking and potable water for the Goat’s Eye base area and lower ski-out, reducing the need to pull water from Healy Creek.
Under the draft site guidelines, a hotel at the village will not be permitted, but an additional 2,000-3,650 square metres of commercial space from the existing 10,126 square metres will be considered as part of redevelopment for the upper village area.
Luey said Sunshine’s first long range plan must ensure issues related to parking, the ski out and water supply will be addressed prior to, or as part of, any proposal to increase ski area design capacity beyond 6,500 skiers.
“They really have to deal with parking first. That’s clearly the biggest limiting factor,” she said.
When the parking lot is full, skiers park their vehicles along the Sunshine access road and in two parking lots at the bottom of the road. Parking is banned on the upper half of the road because of dangerous avalanche paths.
Sunshine Village has operated transit from the communities of Calgary and Banff to the resort for a number of years and this winter expanded the service frequency from Banff and made it free of charge in an effort to increase local ridership.
Parks Canada will receive public comments on the draft site guidelines until Aug. 19.
