There is currently a pending purchasing agreement on land adjacent to the estuary behind the Eaglewind development in downtown Squamish.
The property is a well-known haven for wildlife, including a family of bears. It is also a popular circuit for dog owners and walkers.
The 28-acre undeveloped site on Bailey Street is for sale by BCR Properties, a former department of BC Rail that is currently controlled by the provincial Ministry of Transportation.
The ministry confirmed Monday that BC Rail Properties have a pending purchase sale agreement on the land.
“BCRP went to the open market to sell the property through an open and transparent bidding process,” read an email from the ministry.
The sale is conditional on the purchaser receiving approvals from the District of Squamish, according to the ministry.
Despite speculation online, supported by comments from Coun. Susan Chapelle, that the land was sold and an application submitted, there has so far been no Land Development
Application regarding these lands, the mayor confirmed on Monday.
Land Development Applications are required when owners of property wish to change what uses and buildings are permitted on that property, or if they want to subdivide their parcel.
The controls and process for this are established through provincial legislation, Mayor Patricia Heintzman explained.
“The District is patently and purposefully transparent around development applications,” she said in an email to The Chief.
Once submitted, an application immediately goes up on the District’s development showcase site online, a sign goes up on the property, and is on the next monthly Community Development Committee agenda where all new applications and significant ongoing projects are highlighted and discussed, she added.
There was a pre-application meeting on Jan. 25 and an inquiry to District staff by one potential buyer but there is no formal application to date, according to the District.
The potential buyer was not identified.
Heintzman said the pre-application meetings sometimes take months to go forward or don’t result in an application being filed.
Because the land is located adjacent to the estuary it would be subject to a rigorous public process, environmental impact analysis and public engagement, Heintzman said.
BCRP was a division of BC Rail that was given the mandate to sell its properties in 2004 and has been systematically doing that since then.
More on the mandate and property listings can be found here: www.bcrproperties.com/bcr1/aboutus.php.
