No new drive-thrus?
Council has pushed pause on considering all drive-thru development applications until a new drive-thru development permit guideline is developed.
Food, bank and coffee drive-thrus are included in the deferral. The previously controversial issue was roused at council on Tuesday night.
“We have no key guidelines for them,” said Mayor Patricia Heintzman at council. “They actually cause quite a bit of trouble with traffic etcetera… and we want to have drive-thrus go through a public process, so a public hearing.”
Council passed motions to direct district staff to remove drive-thru definitions from all zones and bring forward changes the next time zoning bylaws are amended.
Existing drive-thrus would be grandfathered under the proposal. Nothing has yet been decided Heintzman said, the issue will be brought before a future council and the public will have a chance to weigh in, she added.
“Nothing is concrete, we haven’t adopted anything. This is setting the process in motion,” she said.
In February of 2014, after an opinionated crowd packed council chambers, the district backed away from proposed restrictions on new drive-thrus.
“Finally. Took a few years but all drive-thrus must now go through public hearing, and development permitting,” Councillor Susan Chapelle said in a Tweet after the council meeting Tuesday night. Chapelle argued in council restricting the number of drive-thrus to those Squamish currently has was better for residents’ health than allowing more.
Organics collection
District of Squamish staff say locals still aren’t getting the message that weekly organics curbside pick-up is on through Sept. 16, for those homes that currently have organic collection. Residents can also schedule an electronic reminder of pick-ups. Go to squamish.ca/our-services/garbage-and-waste-diversion/collection-schedule/. According to the district, 40 per cent of what Squamish residents throw into the garbage is organic waste.
Back it up
New back-in angled parking is in effect on Cleveland Avenue. As of Canada Day, back in parking is required on the east side of Cleveland Avenue between the Squamish Arts Council Building and Main Street. The move is part of the District of Squamish’s “quick wins” at improving parking downtown and is “designed to maximize parking and improve safety for road users,” according to the district. The parking spots are back-in only. Signs onsite remind drivers of proper back-in procedure.
Christmas in July
It is that time of year again when the local food bank is calling for donations to help the hungry in the community.
The annual Christmas in July Squamish Food Bank fundraising event is on July 15 and 16. Volunteers will be outside local grocery stores looking for donations of food and cash. Collections will be taken at Nesters, Save-On-Foods and Craig’s Independent Grocer.
Intra-regional transit nod
The Village of Pemberton’s council agrees with Squamish council’s push for the development of a Sea to Sky Interregional Transit system.
Mayor Mike Richman of Pemberton sent a letter to Mayor Patricia Heintzman in response to Heintzman’s May 26 letter requesting the leaders of Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton get together to discuss the development. Whistler has yet to reply to Heintzman’s request, she said.
Electric cars welcome
Low speed vehicles can now bebop around the streets of Squamish after council adopted a bylaw amendment at its meeting Tuesday night.
The amendment paves the way for neighbourhood zero emission vehicles – cars on four wheels that are powered by an electric motor that can travel 32 kilometres per hour but not more than 40 kilometres per hour. The vehicles can travel on a street that has a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour or less.
OCP phase two complete
Results of phase two of the District of Squamish’s review of the official community plan are in. In all, 220 people participated in phase-two related activities including an online questionnaire, citizen-led OCPizza Parties, discussions and a public workshop, according to a district news release.
Participants strongly supported policies related to the natural environment, recreation, food, arts, culture, heritage and sustainability, according to the district. A wide range of opinions was heard on policies related to density and industrial lands.
A summary of what was heard in phase two engagement can be found at squamish.ca/ocp.
Phase three, which will see the first draft of the updated OCP made available for comment, will be ready in the fall, according to the district.
Eagles count
At the height of eagle season in December in Brackendale, on average 70 eagles were counted per hour at Eagle Run Dike, according to a report.
The 2015/2016 report by Judith Knapp of the Squamish Environment Society’s Eagle Watch program was submitted to council on Tuesday.
This year’s season marked the 20th year for the Squamish Eagle Watch Volunteer Interpreter program and the 30th year of the Brackendale Bald Eagle Festival and Count.
Dec. 5 boasted the highest hourly count in the eagle-counting season that ran from Nov. 7 to Jan. 3.
January 3 saw the most people coming out to see the eagles at the Eagle Run Dike, with close to 300 scanning the trees and river shore for the majestic birds, according to the report.
Public input sought
Do you want to see signs of logging from the Sea to Sky Gondola? The provincial Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is seeking public input on visual-quality objectives for Crown land in Sea to Sky area, including around the gondola. The deadline for input is July 20.
Written comments may be submitted by email to: [email protected]. For info go to, news.gov.bc.ca.
