It's official -the O'Siem Pavilion will be located in the downtown core. But it may not be exactly where some would want it.
And before District of Squamish council makes a decision, public opinion must be heard, said Coun. Patricia Heintzman following a Committee of the Whole presentation Tuesday (Sept. 7).
"I feel we really need to get some community feedback before we make a decision this important," she said.
The $375,000 Towns for Tomorrow grant will go toward building the O'Siem Pavilion, which must be constructed by March 31, 2011.
Residents now have two weeks to let council know which of three staff-proposed locations they prefer.
Staff is recommending option A - to build the pavilion in Cenotaph Park between the UpStares Gallery and the August Jack Motor Inn.
District planner Jim Charlebois said the pavilion could become a link between Stan Clarke Park and a newly renamed Sculpture Garden Park (formerly Pavilion Park).
Another benefit would be that smaller pavilion performances could spill out into Stan Clarke Park and larger performances could close Cleveland Avenue and spill out to Sculpture Garden.
With councillors Corinne Lonsdale and Bryan Raiser absent, most council members rejected the idea, citing lack of space and the necessary closure of Cleveland Avenue for any type of large-scale performance. They were also concerned about the lack of public input surrounding the options.
"Have these options ever actually been talked about with the community groups?" asked Coun. Paul Lalli.
Last year, district planning staff met with several community organizations to discuss details such as usage, washroom access and design aspects but not exact location, said Charlebois.
Charlebois also presented two "less ideal" options, both would be in Pavilion Park -one at the south end adjacent to Main Street and the other at the north end where a pavilion had formerly stood.
The district's purchase of land on Victoria Street rendered the future of the south end uncertain, said Charlebois. It also created wind issues.
And using the north end would likely mean moving some of the sculptures, and might make the pavilion feel "a bit removed from the rest of downtown," said Charlebois.
Despite potential drawbacks, council appeared to favour the south end of Pavilion Park.
"The problem I see with Option A [Cenotaph Park]," said Coun. Doug Race, "is that to be fully effective, we need to close Cleveland Avenue."
He said council needed to consider that Cleveland Avenue is slotted to be the main artery leading onto the Oceanfront lands.
Coun. Rob Kirkham and Heintzman echoed Race's thoughts, saying the south end of Pavilion Park was a better long-term plan.
Mayor Greg Gardner was the lone supporter at the meeting.
"The times you use it for major events is not that often," he said.
Gardner said they could delay the decision for two weeks while staff collected community input, "but that is two weeks lost in a tight construction schedule."
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale, who was not present at the meeting, sent in her comments for Gardner to share with council.
She said she was comfortable with staff's recommendation but she would like to see Squamish Days Loggers Sports Association added to the list of community groups who are working with the project.
Lalli said the Squamish Sikh Association should also be added to the list.
Lalli moved to defer the issue for two weeks to consult user groups and add the Squamish Sikh Association and Squamish Days Loggers Sports to the list. Race seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.
Staff will present a report at a Committee of the Whole meeting Sept 21.
