EDITOR,
Squamish Council has re-negotiated the terms and has again begun the Upper Mamquam Blind Channel Study to best determine land use for the area. It is my hope our local politicians (and everyone else) recognize the Upper Blind Channel as our park entrance and gateway to Squamish.
Both Rose Park and Smoke Bluffs Park border the Blind Channel and are two of Squamish's treasured jewels. A pedestrian bridge over the Blind Channel tying these two parks together gives the Adventure Centre a whole new point of interest. Parks and trails around estuaries are vibrant and valuable.
To make this happen the District of Squamish needs to buy (or do a land swap for) some undeveloped private property at the north end. This property owner is unwilling to allow public thoroughfare on an historic waterfront trail around to the Adventure Centre. If we build a bridge across to a piece of Crown land on the Smoke Bluffs side, we can skirt his property.
We also know that Kingswood Properties (the old Red Point development further south) wants nearly 400 condos. Without left-in and left-out access across the highway, the whole notion of a huge residential development at this location is flawed. Scott Crescent becomes Scott Highway!
Without a controlled intersection on the highway, I think dense residential zoning is not the best land-use designation for this area. The current "Tourist/Commercial" zoning should remain. Any development in the south end should only proceed when the north-end property owner is dealt with.
Our "community vision" matters! Squamish council needs to make a decision and we need to voice our community vision for the Upper Blind Channel or it will all be condos. The Upper Mamquam Blind Channel Land-Use Study will not be done before the Nov. 19 election. We should determine where our new (and incumbent) council candidates stand on this issue.
At the least, council candidates should become familiar with the complexity of this rezoning application and the importance of this public foreshore access.
John Harvey
Squamish
