The following letter to the mayor and council was copied to The Chief for publication.
In reading through the various Official Community Plan documents available online at www.businesssquamish.com, I did not see any mention of equines or the preservation of equestrian facilities.
As stated in the OCP Part 4, Policies & Objectives, Principle 10 - Citizen Engagement Process, I respectfully submit a petition in the above-mentioned matter to be included in the planning of the Squamish Official Community Plan. I hereby submit a petition, which contains 519 names. (Please be advised that the petition was circulated and the signatures obtained in just 10 days.)
All email submissions have been retained by me, Karin Buchanan, if needed, for future verification purposes.
This petition was also circulated within the Back Country Horsemen Society of British Columbia with 58 individual members living throughout B.C. supporting this petition
While gathering names, the feedback from members of the public with whom we spoke made it clear that they want to preserve green space.
They feel that horse facilities provide that. Dense housing developments do not. Based on this feedback, I believe that a large portion of the Squamish community would support this petition.
I wish to thank everyone that signed their name in support of the petition, local businesses, the petition helpers and the local media for covering this issue.
I would ask that the District of Squamish council include, within the scope and content of the OCP, provisions for the future preservation and growth of equestrian facilities.
Karin Buchanan
Squamish
