Cheekye Fan debris barrier application inches forward

There's been some movement on the long road to creating a debris barrier for the Cheekye Fan development in Brackendale.

On Sept. 6, council voted unanimously in favour of approving an administrative procedure that would allow the Crown land application for the barrier to move ahead.

The proponent is Sqomish Sea to Sky Developments, a partnership between Matthews West and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). Matthews West was formerly known as Squamish Cornerstone Developments. Matthews West is a subsidiary of Matthews Southwest.

Back in 2018, council voted in favour of approving the third reading of a rezoning application. This would permit the construction of a neighbourhood development that would create about 1,200 units of residential-commercial space.

However, as a condition before the application becomes officially adopted, the company must build a debris flow barrier to protect the land. That's because their proposed development is on an alluvial fan that has been labelled as a flooding and debris hazard zone by the District.

During a meeting last month, council was told by staff that a while back, Sqomish Sea to Sky Developments submitted a land tenure application for the barrier. However, in July 2022, the provincial government said that to continue processing the application, it would need to be in the District's name.

As a result, council authorized Sqomish Sea to Sky Developments to submit a land tenure application in the municipality's name.

In a report, municipal staff said the province has indicated that submission of the Crown Land Tenure application for construction in the District's name does not commit the District to proceed with the tenure. Council will have discretion in the future to choose whether or not to execute the tenure agreement. Staff, therefore, believe that there is no risk of submitting a Crown land tenure application in the District's name at this stage.

***Oct. 8 - Corrected to clarify that Matthews West was formerly known as Squamish Cornerstone Developments. Matthews West is a subsidiary of Matthews Southwest.