It has taken more than a month, but organized opposition is mounting against the Nexen land deal.
But the push may be too little, too late as a counter petition process comes to a close on Tuesday (July 6) at 4 p.m.
The Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS) is encouraging residents who are concerned about the proposed deal to fill out an elector response form and hand it in at Municipal Hall. Those who sign the forms are officially notifying the District of Squamish (DOS) that they are opposed to the complex land deal.
The petition process started late in May. If at least 10 per cent of the registered electors in Squamish - 924 people - sign the petition, the District must hold a referendum on the deal before passing it.
SRWS director and former District councillor Cheryle Bass is concerned that the DOS is taking on a piece of contaminated land and poses a significant liability to the DOS.
Bass took 100 copies of the elector response form and so far has helped more than 30 people fill out the form.
"Most people are saying that they didn't realize there was still pollution on the site and they don't want the District to take on the liability," Bass told The Chief.
Bass and the other directors with the SRWS want the land deal issue to go to referendum and then get all the relevant information before the public.
"We want to feel confident that the District of Squamish won't hold the liability," Bass said.She added that her society supports eventual development of the site.
"It is a big site and shouldn't be sitting unused the way it is," said Bass.
If the counter petition fails, Bass and the SRWS will do what they can to make sure the environmental liability doesn't rest with the municipality.
The SRWS bought advertising space in The Chief last week and used the advertising space to encourage residents to sign the counter petition forms. West-Barr Contracting, Bass' employer, bought space in this week's Chief to indicate that the company does not want a referendum on the land transfer.
"The transfer of the lands should be accomplished in the most expedient fashion possible to facilitate the transformation of this area and the downtown," writes West-Barr President Allan Barr.
Anyone who wants to learn more about the Nexen land deal can visit the municipal hall during regular business hours and inspect 12 boxes of information related to the Nexen land, the surrounding lands and anything affiliated with the deal.
Bass said that between now and the counter-petition deadline, she and others with concerns about the deal will be handing out copies of the elector response form and encouraging those with concerns to submit completed forms.
