No new drive-thrus will be allowed in Squamish if proposed changes to zoning get the nod from council in the new year.
Existing drive-thrus and those already in stream to be built will remain, but as part of the yearly updates to the District of Squamish’s Zoning Bylaw, no future drive-thrus will be permitted. There are currently two drive-thrus that have been approved for the business park, but not yet built, according to district planner John Chapman. Those will be able to go ahead.
“Someone could come in and apply to rezone, I suppose, in the future,” Chapman said. “But it won’t be a use that is permitted on any parcels in town other than the ones that currently have drive-thrus or approved development permits for drive-thrus.”
Council pressed pause on accepting new application’s for the fast-service businesses in July until a policy was developed.
“We have no key guidelines for them,” Mayor Patricia Heintzman said in July. “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.”
The drive-thru change is one of seven proposed. Another change would require an extra floor of commercial, other than just on the first floor, in downtown commercial zones. This is a change long called for by council and aimed to increase employment opportunities in the downtown core.
Another change proposed for downtown is making room with increased setbacks for separated bike lanes in front of buildings on Pemberton Avenue, Victoria Street and Third and Second avenues. To ensure lots remain the same size, the required setbacks for laneways behind the buildings will be decreased. This change is one that will encourage more biking downtown while maintaining parking spaces, according to district staff.
In the business park the suggested change is to allow office space in specific buildings.
“We believe that there are under utilized buildings in the business park that are existing, so if we can identify those buildings we can pretty quickly increase the supply of second story office space in Squamish.”
Offices have already been set up, Chapman added, so the change will also legitimize those that already exist.
Other proposed amendments to the bylaw include updating the zoning for Paco Road from a multi-family residential zone to a new light industrial zone that would still allow for some residential use such as live-work units. Restricting areas where ministorage can be built and zoning amendments such as permitting new energy-related and public art uses in some zones rounds out the changes proposed.
For more on the amendments go to squamish.ca, click on Your Government, then Projects & Initiatives and scroll down to the bottom of the page for
Zoning Bylaw Update.
Open houses about the proposed changes are planned from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Squamish Public Library and Thursday, Dec. 8 at Brennan Park Recreation Centre.
