The District of Squamish issued a stop work order to Skye Developments on Thursday (April 26), ceasing all construction adjacent to a retention pond on the site.
"I don't understand the timing of this at all," said Jack Ruhland, superintendent for the Skye development.
"It's frustrating that this keeps getting pushed back," said Ruhland. "If they issue a stop work order on the Thursday we can handle that if it is brought forward to council quickly, but it has been pushed back again so now we're looking at not being able to do any work for more than two weeks."
According to the district, Skye had been continuing the work despite not having a building permit in place and the order was issued after it was brought to his attention that work was being done, including the pouring of concrete floors, that was not covered by a site alteration permit.
"What happened is that Skye was putting a retaining structure around a pond on the site," said Mick Gottardi, director of community development for the district. "That was part of their site alteration permit, so that is ok. But they got carried away.
"The building permits for phase two have not been issued so they can't be building the building until they have that in hand."
According to developer Thomas Ivanore, Skye has been in negotiations with the district for over a year in order to get a building permit for phase two on the location.
This issue was initially scheduled to come before council for approval tomorrow night (May 1). However, the process has been delayed and the zoning bylaw that would make way for a permit will not be before council until at least May 15.
Gottardi said that while they had hoped the building permits would have been complete by the time work under the site alteration plan was completed, legal issues have caused delays.
"At this point the negotiations are complete. More or less what has to be done are some right of way agreements and a number of legal documents that accompany a land transfer," said Gottardi.
Ruhland is hopeful that the permit can be issued prior to May 15.
"When we're down for two weeks that hurts my guys who don't have any work in that time," said Ruhland.
However, district chief administrative officer Kim Anema said that moving the issue up is unlikely.
"The meeting on Tuesday (May 8) is just a special meeting, so it can't really be brought up then," said Anema.
