A multi-residential development proposal south of Porteau Cove Provincial Park has moved to the public hearing stage with an open house at the Sea to Sky Hotel Monday (June 18) at 7 p.m.
A rezoning bylaw that would make way for the 1,030-unit development in a joint project between Concord Pacific and the Squamish Nation, passed second reading in front of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) board at the end of May.
"This has been in the works for quite some time," said SLRD director John Turner, of the project that will front both sides of the Sea to Sky Highway.
"This was first made way for in the 1998 OCP. At that time it was a special planning area and it has evolved from there."
According to Turner the project gained the support of the SLRD once the scale of the development was reduced.
"We went down from 1,400 units to 1,030 homes," said Turner. "That was mainly due to water supply concerns. It could still go up to 1,400 somewhere down the line but we wanted to be on the conservative side at first."
Site preparation could begin by the end of July, according to Steve Olmstead, director of planning for the SLRD.
"It is dependent on what the developers want to do, and the results of the public hearing and how the development permit process proceeds," said Olmstead.
"The first sort of phase will be focused on the area to the west, and to some degree immediately to the east of Highway 99. It's mainly the highway frontage and oceanfront being done first."
Further down the line, said Olmstead, the development will include the Deeks Creek Bench, an elevated plateau stretching above the area.
"It will definitely be a good thing for the area," said SLRD Chair Russ Oakley.
"I think it's going to go ahead through the public hearing without a problem. We haven't heard any real opposition to the development so far."
