After longstanding opposition to the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) District of Squamish council announced its support for the Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) document, dependent on a few changes.
At a council meeting Tuesday (June 2), council unanimously voted to be part of the development of a RGS. The motion stipulated, however, that the district has not agreed to transfer or delegate land use planning authority over property within the present or future boundaries of the District of Squamish.
"The intention of this is to articulate the district's position as we try and move through the resolution process," said Mayor Greg Gardner.
Council agreed that the district will not support or approve the RGS unless the board agrees to eliminate the settlement planning map provisions related to lands within the present or future boundaries of member municipalities.
The settlement maps differentiate between urban areas and non-settlement areas in the SLRD. Urban refers to lands that are already developed or already designated for future development, but the RGS would restrict development in non-settlement areas.
Coun. Doug Race, who wrote the resolution in the absence of a Chief Administrative Officer for the district, said the RGS is a planning tool that contains a number of principles consistent with the district.
"But it also contains planning maps for each of the four member municipalities," he said. "The RGS would require us to adopt these maps as part of our Official Community Plan (OCP), which would prevent settlement except in its most restricted form."
In the future, Race said, the district could have a problem if council decides to go into the settlement areas with some form of development.
"We would have to amend our own OCP and then have the RGS amended, which transfers some of the authority to members of the SLRD," Race said. "We end up in a situation where people in Squamish have people they have not elected making land use decisions in our community."
Started in 2004, the RGS document was meant to establish where growth should occur throughout the entire corridor. Squamish council voted unanimously in favour of supporting the RGS if requested changes are made.
Billboards considered for 2010
Visitors to Squamish could be greeted by billboards leading up to and during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
After a long discussion, council voted in favour of directing staff to investigate opportunities for revenue from billboard signage during the 2010 Games from July 2009 to the end of March 2010. Staff was also asked to bring back a list of municipally owned properties suitable for locating signage on the highway.
While the idea is meant to be a revenue generator, Coun. Patricia Heintzman was sceptical.
"To be honest I think we have to look at the long term benefit of having billboards during the Olympics. I would like to see us find better ways of creating revenue," Heintzman said. "What kind of image does this send out about our community? It feels desperate."
Coun. Bryan Raiser also criticized the billboard idea - calling it tacky and the reason why Nanaimo is such a joke.
"I think billboards set a bad precedent. I would like to see less signage on the highway not more," Raiser said.
The billboard idea resonated with other members of council. Coun. Paul Lalli said it is one of many ideas and directing staff to do some research merely tests the appetite of something like this. Gardner agreed.
"I had some concerns about staff time and it is my understanding that this will involve just a few phone calls. I want to stress that no decision about billboards is being made at this time, it's just a request to have staff spend some time on it," Gardner said.
Gardner as well as councillors Lalli, Race, Rob Kirkham, Corrine Lonsdale voted in favour of the motion while Heintzman and Raiser opposed.
New environmental group announced
In a presentation to council, Ana Santos, coordinator of the new Squamish Climate Action Network (CAN) said she would continue to inundate council with suggestions for improvement on almost everything under the Squamish sky.
"With awareness comes responsibility and it is within our mission to spread awareness as we try to accomplish our goals," Santos said.
CAN is the newest environmental group in town, which arose spontaneously out of the Climate Change film series held earlier this year. According to Santos, the group is approaching the 40-member mark and continuing to grow.
"I think it is a great opportunity for the community and everything starts grassroots," said Heintzman.
For more information on CAN, email [email protected] or call Ana Santos at 604-892-0305.
