There is some forward momentum for a proposed development that would bring dozens of townhouse, apartment and retail units to an area of Britannia Beach that is home to several historic shops.
In a recent committee meeting, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District decided to go ahead with a review of Macdonald Development’s proposal to rezone the land and amend the area’s official community plan to accommodate the project.
Staff will also be asked to investigate resale and rental rate restrictions with Britannia Oceanfront Developments Corporation, the arm of Macdonald Development responsible for the development on the north end of Britannia.
This is not an approval of the project, but rather an opportunity for the regional district to study at the developer’s zoning proposals. If the development passes this assessment, it will be a step forward.
“Certainly based on the comments I’ve had from the community, they are very happy to see something coming in like that,” said SLRD vice-chair Tony Rainbow of the local response to the development. “Most of the people in Britannia will be supportive.”
“The people who have been critical are supportive of the idea – they’d like to see some changes to what’s proposed, but I don’t think there’s anyone there who’s anxious to block it completely,” added Rainbow, who represents the Squamish area on the board.
The official community plan considers this area floodplain management, and it would have to be redesignated to allow the development to proceed.
Under zoning bylaws, the area is considered an RR3 Zone, which stands for rural residential three.
This means that, at the moment, the land can be used for things such as agriculture, gravel extraction, forestry and single-family dwellings, among other things. Amendments must be made to accommodate the townhouse development.
Macdonald Development’s proposed project would be on the north end of Britannia Beach at Copper Drive and Highway 99, near the B.C. Mining Museum.
The application is for a mixed-use development, including 58 townhouses, 11 below-market-rate rental apartments, 13 live-work spaces and more than 20 commercial units.
Also proposed are a total of 278 parking spaces, a bus lay-by, flood protection, site landscaping and restoration.
A number of amenities are being proposed by the developer, including a daycare, a fitness centre, upgrades to the local community hall, a children’s play area and a community garden.
The area is also currently home to a number of heritage buildings that are in various forms of use.
While they are not formally registered as heritage buildings, they are historical facilities built back during Britannia Beach’s early development.
Macdonald Development has promised to keep 12 of these buildings, which will have to be moved from their current locations and placed elsewhere on the property.
Some who currently work in the area’s small businesses have expressed disappointment at having to move or close down, though a representative from Macdonald Development has said it has been accommodating to their situation and offered them free rent for their remaining time at Britannia.
There has also been some concern regarding a potential increase in traffic levels, should the development go through. The Ministry of Transportation will be consulted on this issue, Rainbow said.
Finally, cleanup may be needed, as some parts of the area were once considered hazardous waste deposits for materials such as arsenic.
To help tidy things up, Macdonald Development has previously told The Chief it will be enlisting the help of Golder Associates, a company that oversaw a separate cleanup in the area.
