After six years of debate and arbitration efforts stemming from District of Squamish concerns, the Squamish Lillooet Regional District adopted the Regional Growth Strategy on Monday (June 28).
On June 8 independent arbitrator, S. Glenn Sigurdson decided to support the middle ground of the opposing sides, ultimately came down to a few words.
The SLRD stated the RGS will require Official Community Plans to establish policies consistent with the Regional Planning Settlement map, direct housing growth into urban areas and master-planned communities and prevent major growth in non-settlement areas, and encourage Smart Growth strategies appropriate to the circumstances.
This ultimately meant municipalities could not amend OCP land use outside its settlement area without SLRD board consent.
Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton were opposed to this section, and in May, Squamish council members requested the SLRD delete the offending section or change the wording to "Official Community Plans shall."
Sigurdson decided the section read "Official Community Plans should" adhere to the strategies. He didn't provide reasons for his decisions because the Local Government Act doesn't allow him to.
Gardner said he was "very, very pleased with the outcome of the RGS process."
"Overall I think it's a very good outcome for all involved."
"If we wanted to make changes to our OCPwe would not be able to do that unless we had the consent of all the parties in the RGS - the other municipalities, the SLRD and neighbouring regional districts."
For example, said Gardner, if Quest had come to town after the original version of the RGS were signed and Squamish needed to amend their OCP to do that, they would need consent from all the parties.
"We think those land use decisions should be made by people who are elected and held accountable by local voters, not people from neighbouring communities who might have different interests at stake," he said.
When the SLRD board voted to adopt the RGS Monday (June 28), Electoral Area C Director Susie Gimse also brought up the question of accountability, wondering how much the arbitration process cost taxpayers.
A report submitted to the board in March 2009 said the SLRD had spent more than $1 million to date on the development of the current RGS, however costs specific to arbitration were not available.
Squamish Coun. Paul Lalli - who was vocal about his RGS-related concerns in campaigning for election in 2008 - was absent.
In a follow up interview Tuesday (June 29), Lalli said he is "very pleased" that local autonomy for planning and land use decisions is being preserved with the amended RGS.
"The fundamental issue for me has always been wanting to ensure that local planning stays within its jurisdiction - local jurisdiction," he told The Chief on Tuesday (June 29).
"That has always been my main issue with respect to the RGS as it was before, (that) some of the power went to the regional district. I wanted to ensure that people who are elected to make land use decisions locally, that it stays within that jurisdiction. That's what we've achieved now through this arbitration."
There was little discussion, but there was a little bit of laughter, as the SLRD board voted to adopt the RGS on Monday.
Squamish Coun. Patricia Heintzman moved each of the three recommendations resulting from Sigurdson's June 8 ruling.
A report to the board from Steven Olmstead, the SLRD's director of planning and development, said a June 11 discussion showed no objections to the SLRD moving forward with the RGS, after the arbitrator's decision.
SLRD board chair Russ Oakley seemed happy to note there was no need for discussion over the motion.
"Perfect," he smiled.
Some bursts of laughter sprung up while the directors voted, joking about "should" and "shall" and whether it should be specifically noted that Heintzman moved the recommendations. SLRD minutes don't usually indicate who moved and seconded motions.
With files from Megan Gritanni-Livingston, Whistler Question
