A group of people huddled around a map of the Upper Mamquam Blind Channel stretched out on a table.
"Talk about the things you want to see there," said Matthew Roddis, owner of Matthew Roddis Urban Design.
Roddis was contracted by District of Squamish to stage last Thursday's (Feb. 23) public information gathering on the future of municipal and private land that's recently been the focus of controversy. In early 2007, the district initiated the Upper Mamquam Blind Channel Land Use Study when an application for an 8.3-acre mixed-use development near the channel hit council's table.
Over its five-year course, the study has been plagued by miscommunication, for which district officials have publicly admitted some responsibility. In an effort to re-start the process, the district is going back to the public and examining the physical, geographical and social characteristics of the channel area, while also addressing potential growth.
The site is currently zoned for a combination of light industrial along the eastern area of the upper channel and for tourism and commercial along the southern shore. The 2009 Community Official Plan designates the area as an extension of downtown.
"I see this area as an opportunity," said Moe Freitag, former Squamish Chamber of Commerce president.
Freitag told the others at the tablet that he envisions light industry, such as bike shops and speciality manufacturing, commercial space and residential units on the property. In Vancouver, neighbourhoods with all those elements, such as Gastown, are becoming increasingly popular, Freitag noted.
"This is about how we sell ourselves as a community to the masses. That front is important; if we give it up to housing, we lose it."
Downtown Squamish resident Tyson Braun questioned what that will do to the community's heart.
"What is the town's focus? Are we trying to put an emphasis on the downtown?" he asked.
As more projects pop up along the highway, stores are being boarded up downtown, Braun said, noting the district seems to be concentrating on outlying areas, such as the oceanfront, and not its centre.
"There is a lot of lip service to downtown, while we develop WalMart and other developments along the highway," he said.
Squamish resident Carl Ingraham said he would like to see some residential units at the south end of the property along the channel. A tidal weir across the channel would create a pond and park area, he noted.
"This would attract wildlife," he said. "It would also create a very attractive place for housing."
Squamish needs to be known as a desirable place to live and more housing equals an increased tax base, Ingraham said.
Hospital Hill resident Brian Vincent wants the land used by nature too, but voiced an entirely different outlook than did Ingraham.
"Why are we talking about development when no environmental assessments have been done?" he asked.
The green belt is used as a transit passage for wildlife, Vincent said. He has spotted bears, coyotes, bobcats, cougars and a huge variety of bird species in that area. It's a critical link to the wilderness for animals, Vincent said.
"I think development should come second to the environment," he said.
District staff will prepare a summary of comments received, with original feedback forms, for council to review in mid-March. District officials and consultants will then work on a draft of Upper Mamquam Blind Channel policy statements and a land-use plan that will be presented to council for consideration in mid-April, district spokesperson Christie Smith wrote in an email. The public is invited to view the submitted comments at the front counter of municipal hall, she said.
