The contentious small lot development at the end of Newport Ridge Drive is one step away from adoption after Squamish council's decision to give the zoning amendment third reading during the meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 1).
The developer, Townline Group of Companies, is asking the district to amend the current minimum lot size in the 8.2-acre area from 690 square metres (RS-1) to 300 square metres (CE-65).
If the amendment is approved, the project would include a three-storey single-family dwelling on each of the 43 lots.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale made her distaste for the development and the way proceedings have gone evident during the meeting.
"Quite frankly, I don't think it fits well in this neighbourhood at all and I'm feeling badly about where we are tonight," she said.
Lonsdale's main issue was that the public information meetings between the developer and the neighbourhood did not serve their purpose.
"It's not mandated by the provincial government that we have public information meetings," she said. "It's mandated by us so the developer and the community can sit down and chat to one another and work out or talk about the issues.
"In the past when these meetings have taken place the developer and the neighbourhood seem to come to better consensus - there's a little bit of moving on both sides. On this one, I don't know that there was much movement at all, if any, and I feel very badly about it."
Lonsdale said she believes even limiting the houses to two stories could have made the development more acceptable to the neighbourhood.
"I don't believe that it is in keeping with ambience of the neighbourhood, I don't believe there's a huge cry-out for that development and I don't believe that it's affordable at all, so I will be opposing this amendment."
Lonsdale's arguments stood alone among council members.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman moved staff's recommendation to give third reading.
"I really see small lots in this area as actually a good thing," she said. "It's sort of the one type of housing that isn't in that area - it's relatively close to school and to commercial areas."
Coun. Doug Race took it upon himself to discuss several concerns raised during the public hearing and in information received by council.
"This development to me has generated more interest than you might expect for a 43-lot subdivision, but it is for smaller lots and this is a relatively new direction for Squamish," he said.
He discussed traffic, distance to schools and transit routes, density, whether it's affordable and whether it fits with the surrounding development.
"Newport Ridge Drive and Tantalus Road are both main streets and intended as such, and they're intended to serve far more traffic than this development will ever generate," he said. "Newport Ridge Drive was actually designed as a possible third access to the Highlands. Whether that ever happens or not is another question."
He argued that the area was sufficiently close to schools and reminded council it was originally slated as a multi-family area that would have resulted in probably twice as many units.
He also addressed the affordability factor and said although he didn't consider $500,000 affordable for most people, it would be "more affordable for some."
"There are many different levels of housing and this is just one level in that housing mix and it will appeal to some people in the community," he said. "In my view the benefits outweigh the concerns."
If Squamish residents were looking for comfort about housing affordability, Coun. Bryan Raiser did not provide it.
"As for affordability in Squamish - yeah, that's gone," he said. "Our bad redneck reputation is gone and people want to move here.
"That [reputation] was the only thing keeping people away, but now everybody knows we live in paradise and 30 minutes between the two richest communities in Canada."
The rezoning was given third reading with only Lonsdale opposed. Coun. Rob Kirkham was not present.
The few Newport Ridge Drive residents who showed up for the resolution left disappointed.
"I agree with what Coun. Lonsdale was saying," said Mike Suter. "There needed to be a little compromise on the developer's behalf and there was none."
Donald Byrne, who spearheaded several neighbourhood meetings to discuss the proposal, was dissatisfied with council's decision.
"I found it very disappointing that so many councillors voted in a backwards direction for Squamish," he said.
"I am genuinely afraid we have just set a precedent for future developments in Squamish."
