Mayoral candidate Greg Gardner and council candidate Catherine Jackson clashed over the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) recently by councillors at last week's District of Squamish council meeting.The discussion arose during a planned meeting between Gardner and the Squamish Environmental Conservation Society (SECS) at Gelato Carina Thursday (Nov. 6).Jackson, SECS president, said the RGS would be an extra enforcer of smart growth principles, preventing urban sprawl by blocking developments such as Paradise Trails."It seems to me that it comes down to if you are happy with respecting your own OCP, then there wouldn't be a reason to not sign onto the regional growth strategy because that is what it is based on," said Jackson.Gardner, who voted against the RGS, replied it may not be necessary because it is so similar to the Official Community Plan (OCP)."The counter argument is that if we are respecting smart growth principles and the SLRD (Squamish Lillooet Regional District) is and Whistler is and Pemberton is and Lillooet is, than there probably isn't much reason or need for a RGS." Gardner said although he agrees with the principles in the RGS document, he questions the effects of the document in terms of enforceability."So if something in Lillooet for example doesn't like something in Squamish how would that get resolved or vice versa," he said. Broaching another issue, Jackson said she wants answers on environmental mapping. Gardner said he will follow up with staff.
