Council for the District of Squamish rejected a contentious Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) plan to get all regional communities in-line with growth principles.The vote, made during the Tuesday (Nov. 4) council meeting, caused some tension among its members. Mayor Ian Sutherland accused council of not educating themselves with the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) and said that shouldn't justify the bylaw's rejection."Just because this council as individuals didn't do our job, it is no reason for us to turn down the RGS and go back for more consultation," said Sutherland.Sutherland said when the SLRD board had an Elected Officials Forum (EOF), only two councillors showed up."If we don't accept this it goes back for a minimum of six months to be worked on again," said Sutherland. Coun. Greg Gardner and Corinne Lonsdale rebuked Sutherland's comments."I strongly object to criticism of members not being involved," said Gardner. "Frankly, we delegate many things in council level and we had two representatives in that board."Gardner also said he felt the community did not have the full opportunity or exposure to be engaged with the RGS.Lonsdale said the public meeting of the RGS last July was not advertised enough and she did not know of it until a neighbour asked if she was going. Councillors were concerned over accepting the RGS bylaw before the amended Official Community Plan (OCP) was adopted."I believe we need to finish our OCP, and I've been told we are going to be finishing in four months so I don't see a big problem with saying no right now," said Coun. Mike Jenson. Gardner said Squamish is not one OCP behind but two. "We are in a different position certainly than Whistler, which has had a growth plan for a long, long time. "They are farther along in their growth strategy than Squamish is and it is much easier for Whistler because they have a very narrow mandate, so their planning is much more simple than Squamish." Coun. Patricia Heintzman, who voted for the RGS, asked if the document would have to go through an amendment once the OCP is adopted and, if that was the case, if it would it be better just to hold the RGS off. Kim Anema, chief administrative officer, said the OCP will not change the RGS."The RGS...does not go to the level defining what our OCP does in terms of allocating uses through that area."Heintzman voiced concern that Squamish may be alienating the SLRD and other communities who supported it."I think this is going to burn quite a few bridges and I just want to make sure we are putting out the fire."The RGS was rejected, with Jeff McKenzie, Lonsdale, Jenson and Gardner opposed.
