Squamish is currently one of the fastest growing communities in British Columbia. This presents both opportunities and challenges for our local government.
New residents and businesses expand our tax base and possibilities for employment in the local economy. The challenge for the District of Squamish is to ensure that we have both the infrastructure and the amenities to meet our future needs so we can continue to enjoy the quality of life and preserve the environment that makes our community a unique place to live.
Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) are an important tool for local governments to derive funds to help meet the community’s needs for affordable housing, active transportation and recreational amenities. CACs are negotiated when considering an application for rezoning of a parcel of land. Typically, a rezoning enables a developer to increase the density, creating additional value for the developer that did not previously exist. The district negotiates a sufficient contribution at this stage so that we may invest in better infrastructure that makes a densely populated community more livable.
We can learn from the experience of other places such as the Fraser Valley, where suburban growth has sprawled over the natural environment and gobbled up valuable agricultural land while increasing congestion. If Squamish is to avoid a similar fate, we must focus on infill development that accommodates growth within our existing neighbourhoods.
Investments in several different areas through CACs could help accommodate growth. Better infrastructure such as sidewalks and bicycle paths on our major streets can go a long way to reducing congestion by reducing the number of trips made by car. More transit shelters and increased frequency of transit service help make transit a viable alternative to the car. An expansion of Brennan Park can ensure that all residents have access to recreational opportunities and allow our top athletes to develop and excel in their hometown, reducing the need for long trips to Vancouver to access facilities. Also, funding from the district’s affordable housing reserve can help finance the construction of rental accommodations affordable to modest-income households.
In my view, in neighbourhoods where density is being added, the district should also involve existing residents to allocate a portion of the CACs to improvements in amenities that local residents would like to see in their immediate neighbourhood. As a member of your council, I will be advocating for a fair and robust CAC policy that will provide the resources required to construct amenities that will accommodate growth through high-quality infill projects that will allow us to preserve our natural surroundings.
