Most of Tuesday's (June 7) District of Squamish council meeting was dedicated to granting one-year development permit extensions for projects that still haven't managed to get off the ground literally.
Four separate projects were granted one-year development permit extensions "due to market conditions and economic difficulties," according to planner Chris Bishop.
"We are bringing these extensions forward to council on a case-by-case basis," said Bishop.
Council had no issue granting the first two extensions, but when the third development permit, located on Darrel Bay Road, came forward for its second one-year extension, Coun. Rob Kirkham chimed in.
"Looking forward, will we continue to grant one-year extensions indefinitely or is there a limit?" he asked.
Community services general manager Cameron Chalmers said after three years the planning department would likely review whether or not the development is still in line with the community's vision. In this case, though, staff recommended the extension be granted.
"The extensions are needed because market and economic climates changed shortly after approval," Chalmers said. "We are confident these projects will be viable once the market conditions change."
The final one-year extension requested was for an Official Community Plan and rezoning change, making it a more contentious issue. The go-ahead was first granted in 2008 and involved giving two readings to a rezoning designation from light industrial to comprehensive development and a land-use designation change from specialized highway commercial to business park gateway.
Some council members were concerned that the development's proposed location at the corner of Highway 99 and Finch Drive, across from Tim Hortons in the industrial park, wasn't suited for comprehensive development use.
Mayor Greg Gardner said he was concerned about extending the changed zoning designation because of the extensive discussion centered on designating the type of development two and a half years ago.
Coun. Bryan Raiser said he wanted to focus commercial developments downtown, not in the industrial park.
Chalmers reminded council that if the extension and rezoning isn't granted, the applicant would need to submit a completely new application that might not include such a generous amenity package.
"We would lose the amenity package," he said. The package includes $200,000 to be spent on pedestrian or vehicular transportation improvements and in this case, the Discovery Trail.
Councillors Patricia Heintzman, Paul Lalli and Doug Race said given the appeal of the building and the generous amenity package, they felt the developer should be granted one more year to get the project underway.
The motion was carried with Raiser opposed.
Net Zero Waste request denied
During the council meeting, solid waste project manager Rod MacLeod recommended council deny a request from composting facilities company Net Zero Waste for "support of mayor and council to ban organics from the waste stream."
"We don't think that we're at the point now of banning organic materials from the landfill with no plausible alternative," MacLeod said, adding that Net Zero Waste's proposed landfill was outside the municipality and therefore not within the district's control.
Net Zero Waste proponents are seeking support from all three municipalities in the region as well as the Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) to move forward on a compost facility on land owned by the Lil'wat Nation, located near Rutherford Creek between Whistler and Pemberton.
Net Zero Waste Inc. director Mateo Ocejo told The Chief in April that the corridor's current waste facilities are inadequate.
"With some of the region's biosolids currently being hauled large distances to the United States for disposal, it makes sense to separate the food waste from the biosolids at the Whistler facility, which will immediately make room for the region's biosolids and allow the establishment of a food-waste-only composting facility," he said.
He also emphasized the importance of Squamish's support.
"Without the support of Squamish in particular, due to their ownership of the regional landfill, this project will not be possible to advance," he said. "Due to the relatively small population in the Sea to Sky Corridor, we need broad-based regional support for this dream to become a reality."
Despite this plea for support, MacLeod told council Squamish was not prepared to make such a bold move at this time, and the district should keep open as many options as possible for the developing Green Waste Diversion project.
He said the plan is to issue a request for proposals (RFP) in fall 2011 for a program to be implemented in spring 2012.
Heintzman agreed to support MacLeod's recommendation grudgingly and made it clear she thought Squamish should be further along on composting initiatives.
"I would really like to see something in the 2012 budget about diverting organic stuff from the garbage," she said.
The motion to receive MacLeod's report for information was carried unanimously.
Artisan building moves forward
"You had me at hello."
This was Heintzman's response to the planning department's request for council to grant first two readings for a rezoning application to build a live-work artisan building dubbed the "Cargo House."
The area, located at 37710 Third Ave., is currently zoned for light industrial and the applicant is asking for a new comprehensive development zone that would allow for creative mixed-use development, in alignment with the draft downtown neighbourhood plan.
If the change is approved, the applicant plans to develop a building designed to provide an oversized working space with one floor of three residential units.
The applicant is a sculptor and performing artist currently located in Vancouver who specializes in musical performances for schools and special events. The artist has outgrown his Vancouver location and requires a large studio space to allow sculptures that exceed 20 feet in height and a large rehearsal space.
The project is dubbed the "Cargo House" because it would be made predominantly of stacked and repainted cargo containers and timber-formed concrete. The building would also include public art components, a green roof and stormwater capture for landscape irrigation.
Bishop said that as part of the amenity package the applicant will contribute a proportionate amount to recent upgrades to the electricity, telephone, data service and infrastructure upgrades in the area.
The motion to approve the rezoning was carried unanimously and a public hearing will take place on June 28.
