A lack of affordable land zoned for heavy industry is an obstacle to a booming local forestry industry, say stakeholders.
The dearth of such land in Squamish is shaking the foundation of the community's logging companies, said Peter Dickson, president of Fraserwood Industries. The company can't get a lease on the B.C. Rail-owned property for more than five years because there are no policies guaranteeing that the zoning won't change, Dickson noted.
The land that is available is also being eyed by residential and/or commercial developers, he said.
"I wouldn't know where to go in Squamish to get land," he told the District of Squamish's Economic Development Standing Committee on Tuesday (July 2).
In Squamish, the logging industry is eyeing the "creep" of businesses, such as fitness centres, into light industry zones with fear, Dickson said. Although some aspects of the forest industry could be considered light industrial, it creates noise and some of its onsite processes won't work if it's surrounded by other light industrial operations, he said.
"I would be in deep trouble if I put money in the industry park and what's there now ends up around us," Dickson said.
There is potential for the local forestry industry to expand, as second-growth forests in the region are reaching a harvestable size, said Eric Andersen, a Sea to Sky Forestry Society member. To do so, logging companies need assurances that there's space to grow, he noted.
Site B, on the east side of the Mamquam Blind Channel, has long been eyed by the Squamish Nation as a location for a sawmill, Andersen said. At the same time, Squamish Oceanfront officials hope to build an eight-storey hotel across the Blind Channel from the potential mill, he said.
"The people doing the planning at the SODC don't know what the plans are across the channel," he said, noting that could result in a conflict of interest.
The Cheekye Fan area has a mish-mash of uses slated for it. Some forestry companies are currently working off of land marked by the municipality for hydro use, Andersen said.
"The Cheekye Fan has a number of issues," he said.
So, too, has B.C. Rail and the North Yards, Andersen said. The district needs a community strategy for the large industrial areas, he said, noting the district also needs to renew its sub-area plan in the business plan. The review of the Squamish Estuary Management Plan is a good first step to dealing with Site B, Andersen said.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman, the committee chair, took note, making a motion to move forward the strategic plan requests. The motion was adopted, with the request next slated for discussion among Squamish council.
