The vision for Squamish's future is nearing completion in the Official Community Plan (OCP) and residents in Brackendale and the Garibaldi Highlands agree that priority should be placed on balancing green spaces and development.
The District of Squamish must find room to house a projected doubling of the population to 33,000 over the next 25 years, leading to concerns for wilderness corridors, recreational areas and the environment.
Several audience members said they're concerned for plans to make the Highland's former Merrill and Ring property prime for development by designating it as residential. Concerns were expressed for the property's wildlife corridors, trails and environmentally sensitive areas and some suggested designating the area for parkland.
Planning director Cameron Chalmers said numerous community members have expressed similar desires and the designation doesn't necessitate development. Council would take all concerns into consideration should a development proposal ever surface.Residents attending two OCP public meetings in Brackendale and the Garibaldi Highlands Nov. 20 and 23 said locals' grassroots knowledge of trails and wilderness corridors could be instrumental in successfully mitigating the impact of the anticipated massive population growth.
"There's an opportunity to listen to people who are very familiar with the areas," said a Highlands resident. "It's so important not to just pay lip service to concerns."
The district has been partnering with local groups such as SORCA in order to benefit from local knowledge, said Chalmers, who encouraged suggestions on ways to expand the information-gathering strategy.
A few residents said a frog pond at the end of Pia Crescent that was recently filled in with gravel to make way for the property owner's development is an example of environmental destruction that need not occur with the help of local knowledge.
Chalmers agreed, adding that district-wide detailed environmental mapping is currently underway as another means of helping to protect sensitive areas.
"Mapping reduces the number of surprises, surprises are usually filled in," he said. "That's exactly why we're suggesting this plan. There have to be tools in place so this doesn't happen."
A Fisherman's Park neighbour said another example of local knowledge could be implemented into the OCP blueways strategy, which encourages recreational use of the district's waterways. The strategy is worrisome to those living at the cul-de-sac used as an entry point to the Squamish River system because of the high volume of traffic it generates.
"It's a disaster waiting to happen if you start promoting blueways," she said. "The road is a blind dogleg, people from canoe clubs zip through, tour busses turn around in my driveway."
Chalmers said he hopes to receive feedback from anyone with ideas or concerns through written comments collected at municipal hall or online at www.squamish.com, or during the last of four public meetings at the Howe Sound Inn, Monday (Dec. 4) from 6 to 9 p.m.
