Beverly Carson is concerned she'll be in the dark.
The Brackendale Owners and Tenants Association board director lives next to the proposed Rivendale development. Her windows could potentially look out at the 12 duplexes slated for the 3.84 acres of land at the end of Brennan Road, next to Fisherman's Park.
"All my light comes through where they want to put it," she said.
Although she's not against development, Carson is questioning the building setback variance being sought by the proponent, Diamond Head Development. Bylaws state that buildings on the lot must be placed 30 feet from the property line. The variance, if granted, would halve that.
"I am not saying don't build, I am just saying give your neighbours the setback they deserve," Carson said.
Since 1986, the lot has been zoned RM2 - which permits medium-density residential developments. In 2006, the neighbourhood sought to have the District of Squamish council down-zone the property to single-family residential, a move that was narrowly defeated by then-councillors Mike Jenson, Jeff McKenzie and Mayor Ian Sutherland.
Diamond Head Development's 24-unit proposal is down from a 40-unit proposal put forward by Target Real Estate Development Corp. five years ago, but it still doesn't fit with the neighbourhood, Carson said, noting the property includes a dike, hydro right-of-way and underground district drainage which constricts construction.
"It seems the [district] is compelled to just OK this project," Carson said.
Diane Gould, who also lives in the area, has similar concerns. Traffic from up to 48 vehicles generated by the housing complex will change the neighbourhood, she wrote in an email to The Chief. Gould also wants assurances that runoff water from the project won't harm fish habitat.
Rivendale will incorporate underground water storage tanks for rainwater collected from the development, said Jason Wood, the owner of Diamond Head Development.
"Stormwater management was one of the neighbours' biggest concerns. We brought in our engineer to take a specific look at this," he said, noting no new water will be added to the system.
The variance matches a 15-foot setback granted to an adjacent townhouse development, The Paddock, Wood said, adding that the variance allows for a better fit of the duplexes into the property.
Buildings take up 40 per cent of the space, he noted, and their height is below the allowable municipal limit.
"There are a lot of people in trades that are excited about the development," Wood said.
The project will pump $8 to $10 million in direct spending into the local economy, he said. Rivendale's variance request will be before council on Tuesday (April 17).
