Hear ye, hear ye, the District of Squamish has issued an all-points bulletin inviting the denizens of this little patch of paradise to a series of citizen-led Squamish 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) pizza night discussions.
District officials have even offered to pony up $30 to cover the tab for the pepperoni, double-cheese and mushroom-laden delights – or strictly vegan and gluten-free alternatives, as the case may be. Given the feisty local political landscape, will some residents boycott those proceedings unless free beer money is tossed into the bargain?
In any event, suds or no suds, phase two of the OCP incubation process is now in full swing under the banner “Your future. Your plan. Our Squamish.” This is a chance to offer input about commercial and residential development, environmental protection, transportation alternatives, resource management, tourism promotion and pretty well anything else related to the options and trade-offs facing Squamish over the next 24 years.
So, in the spirit of community engagement, here are some general suggestions on the way to the final product. Let’s keep it short, timely and real. In the social media age, where Twitter and Facebook rule, less is more. A 40-to-50-page submission will suffice, and even that parameter may be too large.
The existing document, published in 2009, is a 184-page, shelf-buckling tome. According to that plan, by 2031 this community will be a place “where residents of all ages, cultures and incomes enjoy the highest quality of life” and they will be blessed with “diverse, affordable housing options coupled with an efficient transportation system.” What’s more, we will be living in “a model, complete community with a diversified, self-sustaining economy that maintains environmental integrity and provides residents with satisfying, high-paying jobs.”
Seven years after that invigorating forecast hit the ground running, it appears the “model, complete community” finish line is a mirage receding further into the distance. That does not mean those ambitious predictions are unreachable. Who knows what the next 15 years will bring?
Still, let’s get beyond excessive wishful speculation and present a scenario based on a realistic assessment of all the variables. It should also be acknowledged that the pending OCP’s target date of 2040 is nearly a quarter of a century down the road. At a time when Squamish is experiencing unprecedented changes, why not aim for 2026 or at the latest 2030 for closure?
Meanwhile, on second thought, hold the double cheese and pepperoni. Make that an extra-large classic-crust special, sprinkled with pineapples, green peppers and a dusting of anchovies.
