Large cement blocks seem to have solved a recurring problem along Loggers Lane.
Over the years, the empty lots beside the condo community at Marina Estates have repeatedly filled up with abandoned vehicles, the occasional vanlife resident and trash, including tires, mattresses and the like.
In June, after lobbying by neighbours to the property, the provincial government, which owns the lots, had about 60 vehicles towed away.
But soon after, the lots started to fill up again.
This prompted Marina Estates' resident and president of its strata Nathan Tack to write a letter on Sept. 3. to the District of Squamish council for help.
"As you can imagine, the owners in our strata are very frustrated as some of the owners have garbage, abandoned vehicles ... [a] dozen car tires, less than 50 feet from their patios," he wrote, after also outlining the various agencies the strata had been working with to remedy the situation, to no avail.
Elected officials spoke to the issue at the Sept. 24 regular business meeting.
Coun. Chris Pettingill noted the issue was a "challenging one."
He said he was concerned about the unhoused people in our increasingly expensive town who may have taken up on the lots.
He also noted that the area is a gateway to the town and that it wasn't just people living on the lots but derelict and abandoned vehicles and dumped garbage.
He posed a resolution that the council unanimously passed, directing that "the mayor correspond with relevant parties to encourage a positive resolution to the concerns raised by the community about abandoned vehicles on Loggers Lane."
Mayor Armand Hurford committed to handling anyone vulnerable who may be living on the property with compassion.
"I do think there's a bunch of intertwined issues there that can be addressed, but particularly with the vulnerable population piece, we know that we want to handle those … with the utmost compassion and empathy as we move to address public safety and order," he said.
New blocks on the block?
This past week, the derelict vehicles were towed and the large cement blocks were moved in to prevent anyone from driving in.
A District spokesperson told The Squamish Chief it was not the municipality that placed the blocks.
Due to the upcoming provincial election, a spokesperson for the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said they could not answer whether or not they were responsible for the latest action.
"During the provincial election and interregnum period, government is in a caretaker mode, and all Government of B.C. communications are limited to critical health and public safety information, as well as statutory requirements," reads the spokesperson's response.
Regardless of exactly who took action, Tack is glad they did.
"Great to see that the space was cleaned up," he said.
An RV with at least one person living in it remained as of Tuesday.
The District told The Squamish Chief it recognizes this is a complex issue.
"Staff have engaged with relevant partners to ensure that managing encampments is done with dignity and compassion for those who may have been living on the property," said a spokesperson with the District.
*Please note that this story was updated after it was published to include the quote from the District on the folks living on the empty lot.
