The District of Squamish makes bylaw decisions based on land use, not the marketplace, says Coun. Doug Race.
On Tuesday (Nov. 22), council unanimously passed zoning and an Official Community Plan amendment that will expand the garden function on the property that is now the Village Green Garden Centre, the owners of which are renting the space from the landowner and are not involved in the redevelopment initiative. The changes will allow for retail, a deli, a café and a handful of small artisan and business shop fronts.
At the Nov. 15 public hearing for the 1861 Mamquam Rd. project, two neighbouring business owners spoke out against the plan. The area around the property is "oversaturated" with small business, said Gen Medrano, owner of Diamond head Fish Market. The project, which aims to dedicate 4,600 square feet of the property to a local produce grower, may put existing shops out of business, she warned.
The project, backed by proponent Natalie Pereman, marks a lateral change in land use, Race said.
"These are uses I think are consistent with the surrounding development," he said.
Council has to consider the proposal in terms of land use, Race noted, adding he was confident that staff will work through traffic concerns expressed at the public hearing.
Coun. Bryan Raiser called the proposal "fantastic." Like Race, he took note of opinions regarding the added commercial competition. But Raiser said the new garden centre will face the same market challenges.
The proposal upgrades and transforms the property, Coun. Rob Kirkham said. Considering that 60 per cent of the lot cannot be built on because of overhead B.C. Hydro power lines, he said the plan works well with the area.
Kirkham said he was excited about proposal's focus on becoming an "incubator" for small businesses, giving them chance to have a storefront.
Pereman's plan aims to double the available on-site parking. The centre of the lot is to be landscaped as an outdoor seating area with gazebos and picnic tables. The existing building on the property would be used to sell produce with a strong emphasis on B.C.-sourced goods. The draft also includes two food-truck stalls and two small food kiosks.
The proposal will be back for final adoption in front of the newly elected council in the New Year.
