It's been five year in the works, but now a new type of neighbourhood is set to be unveiled by the end of summer.
The Maples, located at the Loggers Lane and Finch Drive intersection, is the first small lot development project in Squamish.
Sander van der Vorm of Vorm Developments bought the property from the former developer two years ago, and has overcome several obstacles since the purchase. Nonetheless, the first two speculative houses are almost complete, and the 33 pilot houses should be done by next spring.
Van der Vorm said he's confident these houses, which have yet to be tested in the Squamish market, will sell as brilliantly as they have recently in the Lower Mainland.
"Smaller lots means a smaller entrance price for people to get into a house as well and it opens up the opportunity to build some smaller footprint housing," said Vorm.
"There's a lot of people that live in condos or townhouses and would like to own a house, but they don't have the funds to buy a house up in University Heights for $800,000 so there's not a lot of market for people that want to have a single family home that's still affordable."
He said the move to smaller lots makes it more feasible to come up with an option for a lower price point entry level. The Maples houses are priced between $499,000 and $625,000, with the majority between $499,000 and $525,000.
"If you're talking about affordability in British Columbia, it's pretty much the lowest entry point that you can find for a single family home.
"Particularly with the HST coming in, we're trying to reach the market. Everybody is very sensitive when they're buying a house right now. They want to get the most that's possible for it at the lowest price."
However the project's lot sizes haven't gone without issue. Numerous variances have had to go to council since current zoning bylaws don't address smaller lot size.
During the July 6 council meeting, council supported municipal planner Sabina Foofat's recommendation for seven variances, which included smaller, shared driveways, allowing for carriage style garages and smaller rear and front line setbacks.
"The challenge is existing bylaws that don't have provisions for small lot development," said Foofat. "It is a pedestrian oriented neighbourhood with garages at the back so the houses can be close to the street."
New zoning bylaws are currently being drafted to deal with smaller lot sizes.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said she particularly supportive of the development, saying she believed it will address housing affordability in Squamish.
Van der Vorm said having the lot surrounded by an environmentally protected area has been an issue, but in the long term he thinks it will be a perk to the entire project.
The proposed lot area had a full salmon stream going through it, and Vorm Developments had to work with the Fisheries and Oceans Department, the District of Squamish and the Squamish Nation to divert it. The Squamish Streamkeeper's Association was also involved and are now monitoring the process.
"It was a time consuming process with a lot of consultation and it took about half a year to get approved," he said. "But it actually enhances our features that we can offer to the people as well."
Another perk approved during the July 6 council meeting allows for carriage houses in detached garages that can be used as mortgage helpers since they can be rented out.
