Municipal councillors met on Tuesday (Oct. 27) afternoon for a Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss a variety of environmental issues, starting with a plan for vegetation along a new commercially developed portion of Highway 99.
A landscape and vegetation alteration plan proposing a series of thinned out vegetation in between Highway 99 and 39400 Discovery Way, where the new Holiday Inn will be located, was met with consternation by some members of council.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman said she'd like to see a change in the approach to the area's commercial development.
"No offence, but the Business Park is an antiquated philosophy. We need to stop the knee jerk reaction of clearing it," she said. "I'd prefer to leave it in its natural state."
The plan includes three gaps in vegetation that would provide visibility of the new strip of businesses, balanced with two vegetation strips proposed to be no taller than five feet above the level of the highway.
Stewart Kerr of Anthem Retail Properties presented council with several illustrations and diagrams suggesting what residents could expect to see. Kerr noted that Anthem is open to keeping some of this natural vegetation.
"We're trying to create a conceptual sightline which goes from the highway to the back of the development," Kerr said.
Heintzman asked that the planning committee think outside the box and set a higher standard for what is deemed as acceptable vegetation treatment along side Highway 99 in the district.
Coun. Doug Race asked if the district should expect more highway side development in the future, but Cameron Chalmers replied this endeavour would be the last due to current zoning.
Race said the district has a responsibility to carryout economic commitments and should find a way to make this work.
With thinned out vegetation, Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said, increased highway-commercial visibility could draw travellers off the highway. Lonsdale urged council members not to compromise good development opportunities for the community by limiting the visibility.
Coun. Bryan Raiser acknowledged his mistrust of artist renderings and said he wants to know for a fact that what he sees in the planning stage is what the municipality gets.
"I've got some trust issues. Council's have made mistakes in the past," he said. "We didn't get the Wal Mart we were told we would."
Coun. Rob Kirkham fully supported the artist renderings and said he would support this project proceeding further.
Council authorized the project to continue forward, with the exception of Heintzman who voted against proceeding because she felt the attempt did not protect enough vegetation.
Council presented with energy options
In response to a council initiative launched in June to assess alternate energy sources throughout the district, Trent Berry, a partner of Compass Resource Management, presented municipal council with several options, including biomass fuel, sewer, ocean energy, co-generational energy.
Berry considered several factors including the geographic location and population size of Squamish and the population density before recommending a short list of considerations.
"You have several options, the way I see it," he said.
The three best options for the district to consider are biomass fuel due to availability, cost and low green house gas emissions, ocean energy due to availability and cost, or co-generational energy.
Council members said they were very pleased with the informative Neighbourhood Energy Utility presentation.
Zoning bylaws reviewed
Municipal councillors unanimously approved the scope of a zoning bylaw review, which will update the rezoning process currently in place. Chalmers recommended the district hire two outside consultants to provide a fresh perspective on long-established processes, and how they can be improved. Councillors unanimously agreed to spend $35,000 from the 2010 budget for the consultants, and $80,000 would go toward updating the zoning maps and converting them to a digital format that can be maintained by the district.
