A flower business will take up a more permanent root outside Squamish's busiest shopping centres.
On Tuesday (Feb. 5), Windflower Designs requested council allow the company to operate permanent outdoor retail shops outside Nesters at Squamish Station Mall and London Drugs at the Garibaldi Village shopping centre.
Since last year, the company has held lease agreements with the malls' owners. Originally, Windflower Designs was licensed as a Temporary Commercial Vendor, stated a planning report to council. Under the district's business bylaws, the classification limits sales to eight days in any consecutive 30-day period.
Although Windflower's tents are temporary structures, in all other regards the business is permanent, company owner Jill Lee told council.
Because the company wishes to operate daily, it requires a development permit amendment. Both mall operators backed Windflower's request.
Overall, the outdoor flower shop animates the storefronts, the report stated. That contributes to an enhanced physical image, which is one of council's key goals for downtown, the report stated.
With both locations operating, Windflower employs 11 members of the community with spin-off support for items such as accounting, graphic design and delivery services.
District officials may want to examine creating a kiosk policy, allowing similar businesses a smoother licensing process, rather than going through a development permit process, Coun. Patricia Heintzman said.
Council unanimously backed the amendments.
