Downtown affordable housing advocates were pitted against one resident who fears public parking problems during a public hearing into the proposed 33 small-scale condo complex on what is now the Howe Sound Inn parking lot.
The hearing, held by the District of Squamish as a run-up to its third reading of the rezoning of the parking lot to allow for development, was followed by a vote that passed with five councillors in favour and one opposed.
Myron Calof, the president of TiGERi Development Group, the developer of the project, made a presentation during the hearing, complete with blueprints, outlining details of the proposed four-storey, multi-family units.
"It should be fairly clear from the nature of the site that we are talking about generally smaller units in this development," he said. "As a result, they address a niche in the market that most developments do not. We think this is an important niche that has not been addressed."The other positive aspect of the project, said Calof, is that it is located in the downtown, something that is "particularly near and dear to my way of thinking."
"We embrace the concept of downtown involvement.... To be a part of a community where you are more likely to walk to where you have to go," he said.
Local resident Moe Freitag, one of two residents who spoke in favour of Studio SQ, said three aspects of the project attracted him: it catered to an income level "that has been totally priced out of the Squamish market"; it was open to residents and not absentee owners; and it brought people downtown "filling businesses and spending their money in those businesses."
Resident Steve Shard made a detailed 12-minute presentation against the proposal.
He opposed the project largely because of the site rather than any other reason, and said he had been initially a supporter of the Studio SQ conplex.
He changed his mind, however, when he realized the proposed site was on an existing space used for parking and not the adjoining vacant lot.
"I though no planner in their right mind would support such a development that would quite literally cover an entire existing parking lot for an existing, thriving commercial building if it meant eliminating nearly 60 per cent of the building's parking lot," he said.
He added it was ill-conceived for the location, and believed Studio SQ's design would negatively impact the visibility of the inn and cause considerable parking problems. He also mentioned the opposition of neighbouring residences.
Following Shard's presentation, district employees Cameron Chalmers and Sabina Foofat attempted to address his concerns.
"Why we think this site makes sense is that this is a fringe area of our downtown commercial core," said Chalmers. "A residential building makes a lot of sense from our perspective."
Coun. Greg Gardner expressed concern over the lack of visitor parking to the site, which will have 33 parking spots, while Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said she was supporting the motion to rezone the parking lot because the project was "mostly sensible."
Only Councillor Mike Jenson said he could not support the rezoning for Studio SQ as it was currently planned.
"I can't support the project," he said.
"It does seem to me that it's in the wrong place and I'm looking at the long term."
Despite his concerns and those of Coun. Raj Kahlon, who was unable to attend the meeting, the motion was put forward by Coun. Jeff McKenzie and seconded by Lonsdale.
It was passed by those present, with the exception of Jenson.
