A new Official Community Plan (OCP) with a vision of Squamish for 2020 could be in place by the end of the year. The plan shapes the future of town by suggesting how lands can be used.
While some areas, such as the Garibaldi Highlands are slated for additional housing, other areas such as Brackendale appear to have reached their full potential.
In many ways, the plan places environment before industry. It limits serviced development to places below 200 metres in elevation. It also calls for the oceanfront lands to be used as a model for sustainable development. Much of the Cheekye Fan is protected from development as a "special study area," and a 30-metre setback is required along all waterways.
These restrictions along with a varied topography mean that only 25 per cent of town land is developable, said director of planning Cameron Chalmers.
At a strategy session on Tuesday (Oct. 9) he credited Smart Growth planner Lyle Walker for adding a noticeably green spin to the plan.
"Lyle's not very good at blowing his own horn," Chalmers explained. "But I don't think you'll find anything close to that in any OCP in the province."
While council members asked for several changes to be made to the plan, the session ended ahead of schedule with talk of approving it before 2008. Much of the strategy session debate centered on word choice. Coun. Patricia Heintzman said simply encouraging future developers to use LEED construction was too "wishy washy."
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said a mixed-use resource designation by the Mamquam River was too "loosey-goosey." But Coun. Greg Gardner expressed concern that the language was overly committal, describing the 200-metre cutoff for development as a "hard line in the sand."Chalmers assured them the plan would be tweaked before going any further.
Some suggestions made by council could hamper proposed development. Heintzman asked for the Cheekye study area to follow the natural boundaries of the fan rather than curving to accommodate a proposed residential project.
"The boundary was premised on the submission that was made to council," Chalmers said, adding that he would take a second look at the line.Lonsdale asked for the land above Finch Drive to be given a new designation, since residential projects such as Redpoint have run into significant traffic problems.
One of the most obvious changes to the OCP is at the old Interfor site, which now carries a downtown label. Gardner supported this change, but asked that the definition of downtown be expanded to include parkland. Coun. Raj Kahlon said he would like to see a portion of the waterfront land designated for industrial use.
Although it conflicts with the plan's "Downtown First" theme, Chalmers also proposed more development at the intersection of Garibaldi Way and Highway 99. By creating buildings with retail on the bottom floor coupled with offices and residences above, those living in Garibaldi Highlands could enjoy a more amenities on foot.
Looking at the plans around Garibaldi Way, Londsale said she would like to see more opportunities for big box stores.
"We are going to be a service centre for the corridor, we have got to accommodate them," she said. She suggested that a new community questionnaire be distributed to see if residents have changed their feelings about large chain stores.
The original survey was distributed in the summer of 2005.
Chalmers said the new plan would still leave room for big box stores in the Business Park and Phase II of Garibaldi Village.Community members will get to share their thoughts on the plan at a public meeting Nov. 8.
