There's optimism in the air about the future of the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) developed by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), after an elected officials forum provided a much-welcomed opportunity for dialogue about the planning document rejected by the District of Squamish last fall.
Squamish Mayor Greg Gardner said the Thursday Sept. 24 forum for local government officials led to "very productive" dialogue, and he thinks the issue has been moved forward.
"I am optimistic that we can get this issue resolved to everyone's satisfaction in the near future," Gardner said.
The discussions form part of the non-binding dispute resolution process currently underway to solve the RGS issues. SLRD Community Planner Lisa Griffith said the Minister of Community and Rural Development has directed local officials to "get on with it," but there is no timeline for the process.
At the forum, Squamish officials put their primary objection to the document and possible solutions before the other local government leaders and staff members.
Gardner said they are "very much in favour" of having a strong RGS, but their issue is with one portion of it - namely, he said, that under the document a proposal inconsistent with a member municipality's Official Community Plan (OCP) would require an amendment to the RGS with unanimous consent of all member municipalities and adjacent regional districts.
"Our concern is a governance issue," he said, adding Squamish officials feel that's not how land use decisions should be made within municipal boundaries, since communities elect local councils for that.
Squamish's leaders suggested two solutions to their concern. The first, which Gardner said was their desired outcome, was to take away the right of the other member municipalities and affected regional districts "to object and stop amendments to the OCP within municipal boundaries."
There should still be a duty to consult the other parties on amendments within municipal boundaries, he said, but the ability for them to block amendments should be changed.
Squamish's secondary solution presented was that all land within municipal boundaries should be designated a so-called settlement area, so that development proposals addressed by municipalities wouldn't require amendments to the RGS. The amendment process is what triggers the need for approval from other parties.
Generally, Gardner said, Squamish's officials felt "our position was understood" and the other municipalities were receptive to their ideas, though he said he didn't want to speak for the other municipalities.
"I thought it was very productive. I think we have moved the issue forward," Gardner said.
The next step is for the other local councils and electoral area directors involved in the RGS to discuss possible solutions and impacts among themselves, before coming back all together at another elected officials forum, hopefully before the end of October, Griffith said.
Pemberton's council has also expressed concerns over the decision-making autonomy of local governments under the RGS. Mayor Jordan Sturdy said he felt the forum was a good chance to have the "really necessary" dialogue, and everyone understood Squamish's concerns and was glad to see the issues and possible solutions expressed.
"I think the indications are we'll be going to somewhat less prescriptive language," Sturdy said, adding, "That, I think, is where Squamish wanted to go. They certainly had Pemberton's support."
Griffith noted that the RGS will be approved in some form at the end of the day, because the minister can direct the debate to one of three methods of binding resolution if the non-binding dispute resolution efforts don't work.
At the forum, she said, "there was proof that we are making progress," so the non-binding process can continue.
Lil'wat Nation officials have raised concerns of their own about the RGS, and Griffith said Coun. Joanne John shared their perspective at last Thursday's forum. The Lil'wat issues require a different approach to be addressed, Griffith said, because they are not a signing party to the RGS, though the SLRD does consult and engage with them, she added.
