The massive wave that is the Squamish Oceanfront Lands Development is cresting, and now it is up to council to either ride the wave or wait for the next one.
Many of the important components for the sale of the 59 acres and 44 adjacent underwater acres that make up Squamish’s waterfront, and which are owned by the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation (SODC) are coming before council in the coming days and weeks.
Council currently faces several decisions that relate to the Squamish Oceanfront Development: a revised Development Cost Charge (DCC) bylaw, a phased development agreement that will include community amenities, an Official Community Plan (OCP), a sub-area plan amendment, a zoning bylaw – technically the lands are still zoned industrial – a revitalization tax exemption bylaw for the oceanfront lands, a subdivision development and control bylaw and a Development Cost Charges front-ender agreement with the developer.
Last Thursday (April 23), a public open house was held at the Squamish Adventure Centre about many of these aspects of the project.
On Monday, council passed first reading on the DCC bylaw, the zoning bylaw and the revitalization tax exemption bylaw.
Further readings will be before council next Tuesday, and May 20, according to the district, there will be public hearings on the OCP amendment and the DCC bylaw.
Adoption of the policies is expected in late May, according to the district.
“All these negotiations that have been going on for a year are coming to decision time for council and for the community,” said Mayor Patricia Heintzman.
May 11 is the deadline on the Alternative Approval Process (AAP), which puts prospect of the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation refinancing of the $11 million debt on the Oceanfront Lands to the public. This means if residents don’t like the refinancing plan, they can go to the district to sign a petition against it.
If 15 per cent of the electorate sign the petition, the question fails, according to the district. Those opposed have to sign and submit an elector response form to municipal hall.
The aim is to have all of the bylaws adopted and decisions by council made by May 26, according to district staff. June 26 is the close of sale deadline.
Heintzman said that the adoption of the bylaws – conditions of the sale – is similar to subjects on the sale of a house.
“If, for whatever reason, council changes them or council denies them… then obviously the person we’re are in contract to, to potentially sell the land to, will have to make a decision on whether or not it is something they can live with or not live with,” said Heintzman.
The $15 million deal for the waterfront land between the district, SODC and Matthews Southwest/Bethel Lands Corporation (now called Newport Developments) was made in August 2014.
The project will include a park, commercial, cultural and education spaces, and thousands of units of housing. The full development of the land is expected to take 20 years, with the park being the first to be built.
About 11 years ago the district was given the oceanfront lands by the provincial government.
