Same time, same place, same outcome.
Squamish council voted to recess the public hearing on the phased development agreement for the fourth time Tuesday night.
The last time the public hearing was recessed was Aug. 4.
At the specially convened business meeting to deal with one of the key documents related to the sale of the Oceanfront Lands, acting chief administrative officer Linda Glenday advised council that because a noise study on the Oceanfront had been recently completed, more time was needed to integrate the study information into the final agreement.
The phased development agreement between the district and the developer Newport Beach Developments binds the district to land use on the Oceanfront property set out in the document for the 20 years of the build-out, and in exchange, the developer contributes community amenities such as an Oceanfront park and $150,000 in public art. The agreement also includes a rental pool covenant, flood proofing and an industry covenant. It is the industry covenant that has been the sticking point with industrial neighbours to the property wanting more of a guarantee that complaints from residents about noise, dust and glare from ongoing industry operations will not impede on industry.
Glenday also advised that since the development cost charge front-ender had not yet been finalized, it would not be fair to pass the phased agreement.
“We want to ensure that both the DCC [development cost charge] front-ender and the final phased development agreement with the final covenants is provided to the public well in advance of the final public hearing,” she said.
On Tuesday, council did adopt the Development Cost Charge Bylaw, which was a condition of the sale of the property.
The noise assessment of the Oceanfront Lands was completed on Aug. 18 at the northwest corner of the proposed waterfront property.
The report from BKL Consultants in Acoustics states that a seven-hour noise measurement taken from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. resulted in a continuous sound level of 53 decibels. During testing, the highest short-term noise levels from logging or a train whistle were registered at 73 to 75 decibels.
A dishwasher is often at about 60 decibels, according to the American Speech Language Hearing Association, while the sound level within 100 feet of a jet airliner is about 130 decibels.
Outdoor noise exposures between 45 and 55 decibels are considered normally acceptable for housing, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
“Since no facades of the future residences will be exposed to 24-hour equivalent noise levels above 55 decibels, any construction complying with BC Building Code requirements should result in the CMHC noise criteria being satisfied,” stated the report. The report advised that the developer make sure future housing façades provide sound isolation for “these potentially intrusive noise events.”
The report cost $4,500 and was paid for by Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation, according to the district in response to a freedom of information request.
Representatives from industry that neighbour the Oceanfront questioned the accuracy of the noise assessment results.
“We were not in operation on Aug. 18, there would have been substantial activity otherwise, 36 loads during that day would have been scheduled,” said Eric Andersen, who spoke on behalf of Oceanfront neighbour Squamish Mills.
A spokesperson for the Squamish Terminals said that the company supports the Oceanfront Lands plan, in general.
“We just want to make sure the various businesses that have been existing for some time are also looked after in this process,” said Ron Anderson.
The $15 million sale of the land between the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation, the District of Squamish and Newport Beach Developments was originally set to close in April.
The public hearing on the phased development agreement will continue at Municipal Hall on Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.
*Please note this story has been updated since it was first posted to reflect information released in a freedom of information request.
