Despite warnings from staff, council requested policy changes that pave the way for development of 98 acres north of Garibaldi Highlands.
Currently, District of Squamish (DOS) regulations freeze use of 450 acres, situated north of the Highlands and west of Mashiter Creek, until the community reaches a population of 22,500.
Speaking on behalf of the land's owner, Robert Cheema, Urbanics Consultants Ltd. president Philip Boname told officials at Tuesday's (July 16) Committee of the Whole that the requirement is simply unfair. The development consultant said the policy singles out Cheema's lot.
In the 240 single-unit residential lot proposal to build on a portion of the land, Cheema offered to construct the long-talked-about North Road, Boname noted. It would provide access to the Highlands through Condor Road, connecting to Doward Drive.
"You have everything to gain and nothing to lose," Boname told officials.
District staff warned the policies were put in place for a reason. Existing zoning already presents the opportunity to build 690 single-unit and 3,600 multi-unit dwellings within the community, district planner Sarah McJannet said. Using Squamish's estimated sales rate it would take more than a decade to absorb the vacant lots, she noted.
The property sits at the northeast boundary of the municipality's infrastructure. Any development could trigger required extension and upgrading to the town's water, sewer and stormwater system, McJannet said, and the North Road would fall to the district to maintain.
"Although it is developer funded, the district does assume the operating costs," she said.
The majority of council sided with the proponent. This area is earmarked for residential, Coun. Susan Chapelle said, and developments bring newcomers to town and newcomers bring jobs. Market value should dictate the viability of a development not government, she noted, before adding the developer-funded connector to the Highlands is an amazing asset.
Councillors Patricia Heintzman and Bryan Raiser weren't so quick to jump on the development train.
"We can't afford the infrastructure we have now," Raiser said.
The original discussion regarding the population cap focused on ensuring growth was manageable, Heintzman said.
Committee of the Whole voted to direct staff to look into lifting the population cap policies for the property. The motion will come back to council for final approval. If given the green light the developer would be required to hold a public meeting as part of the Official Community Plan amendment requirement.
