The District of Squamish is the only one of 11 Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) municipalities yet to embrace the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS), so the Ministry of Community Service has called all parties to the table for a closed meeting Tuesday (Jan. 17).
After the meeting, Mayor Greg Gardner confirmed the district is not backing down.
"The purpose of the meeting was to ensure everyone understood Squamish's position and to see what the next step forward was," said Mayor Greg Gardner.
The RGS document is meant to establish where growth should occur throughout the entire corridor. Under the RGS formula, changes to the document can only be made through SLRD bylaws and Gardner said council fears Squamish will lose its autonomy.
"At the meeting we explained our concern with the concept of other municipalities and the SLRD being able to control land use decisions that fall within our boundaries," Gardner said. "The RGS is meant to be guiding principles and I am not sure it's intended to be legally enforceable by one jurisdiction on another."
Under the RGS, Whistler could veto Garibaldi at Squamish, which resort staff and leaders have vocally opposed in the past. Gardner said the next step for council is to deal with the RGS to an upcoming council meeting.
"We have a new council and we need to meet and discuss the issues at length," Gardner said. "I believe you will see the RGS on an upcoming agenda item."
Council opposes liquor store move
Council voted unanimously to oppose BC Liquor Distribution Branch's plans to relocate the Squamish liquor store from downtown to Garibaldi Village during a District of Squamish council meeting Tuesday (Feb. 17).
Coun. Bryan Raiser initiated the motion to send a letter to various provincial government departments expressing extreme opposition to the closure of the downtown location. Instead council suggested the BC Liquor Distribution Branch consider operating both locations.
"I think the letter formalizes the district's position. I think it is a really short sighted decision on their part. If they talked to our planning department, they would find out that 70 per cent of our growth is planned for our downtown," Coun. Patricia Heintzman said. "This seems to be a desire to catch traffic heading up to Whistler."
The current liquor store attracts foot traffic downtown. Mayor Greg Gardner said the decision seems in conflict with the provincial government's Smart Growth policies that encourage revitalization of the downtown.
"I think this is driven in part to a relationship between these outlets and London Drugs, which is another factors not based on what is best for the community," Gardner said.
Council not opposed to creek trail
Council chose not to support a letter that opposes plans for a trail along Brackendale Creek into the MacDonald Place neighbourhood.
Residents are opposed to the creation of a trail system along Brackendale Creek that will connect Government Road to MacDonald Place. In a letter to the district, residents said a trail would increase the potential of crime in the neighbourhood.
"We request that Council respect our neighbourhood's concerns regarding the safety of our children and homes," stated the letter.
The letter also stated both the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Fisheries are concerned with the trail and have placed severe restrictions on how it is to be constructed.
Although council did not give official support, a motion was passed to refer the letter to the provincial approving officer along with a request the letter be considered in the subdivision review process. Coun. Corinne Lonsdale opposed the motion.
Earlier in the meeting, Lonsdale asked council to officially support the position of the MacDonald Place residents through an amendment. The motion failed but in an unusual move, it was reconsidered only to fail again with Gardner, Coun. Doug Race and Heintzman voting against it.
"I find myself opposed to the amendment because of a lack of information," Race said.
The issue will now rests with the Cameron Chalmers, the approving officer, who will consider the letter in the subdivision review.
Recommendations meet glitches
The new standing committee system encountered some glitches as the first recommendations from the Parks and Recreation committee were brought before council.
Committee Chair Heintzman asked council not to pursue any further renovations of the Brennan Park Recreation Centre to accommodate a fitness centre. Instead she asked that staff bring forward a proposal for expressions of interest to build a new fitness centre.
While council agreed that suspending renovations was a good idea, the request for a new fitness centre raised concerns. In the end the motion was withdrawn.
"I think the idea is great but financial times are no so great. We really need to look at Brennan Park comprehensively from a higher level. There is also a need for a second sheet of ice," said Coun. Paul Lalli.
