Concrete could be poured by fall as plans for Squamish's latest business park development forge ahead.
A year ago, Solterra Acquisition Corp. purchased 20 acres of District of Squamish property in the Squamish Business Park. Since then, the Vancouver-based developer has submitted the first phase of the development permit to the municipality, the company's vice president Mike Bosa wrote in an email to The Chief. Located at the corner of Queens and Commercial ways across from Squamish Toyota it consists of four buildings totalling more than 100,000 square feet.
Pending approval from the district, the first 30,000-square-foot building, with 19 units fronting Commercial Way, will start construction either this fall or the following spring, Bosa wrote.
For Sale signs will go up once Solterra has preliminary approval from the district, he stated, noting some of the 1,450-square-foot units will be leased. With permits in place, Solterra will actively search for businesses interested in moving to the business park. During this process, the company anticipates working closely with the district, Bosa stated.
We haven't sought out large tenants yet, but with the size of the property, we are keen to try and accommodate any businesses which would fit with the business park, he wrote.
Council does have some control over what gets built on the property though the municipality's zoning, Coun. Doug Race said. The land is not intended for smaller retail stores that would compete with downtown Squamish, he said.
I don't think you are looking at a mall, Race said.
The land is zoned for light industrial use, district planner Sabina Foofat wrote in an email. The zoning permits building supply outlets, such as Rona and Home Depot, but doesn't allow any non-building-supply, large-format retail a.k.a. big boxes.
a rezoning process to change the permitted uses and the conditions of any new uses would be required, she wrote.
Solterra is also eyeing restarting construction of its Streams residential units, the current phase of a 25-acre master-planned neighbourhood west of Save-On-Foods in downtown Squamish. The housing market is picking up, Bosa stated, noting the unit plans are being tweaked to increase their appeal to would-be purchasers.
We will have 16 new homes with the completion of the existing foundations, Bosa stated.
Last year, the district handed Solterra a one-year development permit extensions for The Falls and The Nature's Gate, both phases of the Eaglewind development.
When asked whether Solterra has any interest in the Squamish Oceanfront, Bosa wrote that it will be a great development for Squamish, but that he couldn't comment on whether it is among those proposing to take part in the development.
