The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District board meeting and public town hall was held at the Furry Creek Golf and Country Club on Oct. 23. While meetings are normally held in Pemberton, this location allowed residents of the area to ask questions and raise concerns with the board members in person. Around 20 members of the public attended the town hall, bringing a variety of topics to the table from bears to sidewalks to the proposed development near the golf course.
The first member of public to speak raised his concerns about the proposed development for the area near Furry Creek Golf Course. The Furry Creek resident said it made no sense for an 11-storey building to block the golf course's — and residents' — views of the waterfront. Michael Geller, the representative for Fine Peace Holdings, later addressed the town hall. He said the proposal would go to a public hearing at some point in the near future.
There was some discussion about density, and how an apartment building could be an efficient use of land.
Other residents raised concerns about aging and lacking infrastructures such as sidewalks and lampposts and the difference between rural and urban management throughout the regional district. Whistler Mayor and SLRD director Jack Crompton said there can be a tug-of-war with getting services, which often come as a result of densification, and densification can drive services.
While many had comments about bears in the community of Furry Creek, Rainbow said the SLRD is planning a Bear Smart workshop for residents. Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott added that education and bylaw enforcement had helped in Squamish, but noted bear conflict has not been an easy problem to solve. Members of the public added their concerns about the lack of bylaw enforcement, considering there are two SLRD bylaw officers — based out of Pemberton. Elliott also said changing built behaviour — such as stratas centralizing waste facilities — works to reach those who would otherwise not bother to change habits.
