Editor,
John French's editorial on Smart Growth July 29 raised an important issue for all corridor residents. The region's unprecedented growth emphasizes the need for intelligent community planning. It's unfortunate that he chose to illustrate that point by encouraging objection to the proposed Porteau development on the grounds that it is too far from Squamish. From their perspective, Porteau residents will likely head south for work, and play in the corridor. They will have shorter commutes than Squamish residents who work in Vancouver or Whistler. Porteau has long been recognized on the SLRD's Area D Official Community Plan as a Special Planning Area. Residential settlement is fully supported and not a new idea. The preliminary application by Concord Pacific and the Squamish Nation clearly needs work. Providing access to the new Porteau community via a stop light on the most dangerous portion of the Sea to Sky is a notion that can be filed under "nice try". Concord has proven with its brilliant Yaletown development at False Creek that it is capable of much more than the proposed empty lots. The corridor deserves Concord's inspired place-making skills.
Mr. French suggested that owners of land at Porteau should be forced to wait until Furry Creek developers get their act together and reach their capacity. Since 1997, Tanac has managed to produce 12 empty lots. At that rate of 1.5 lots per year, it will take them several centuries to accomplish the task. Municipal legislation should not be misused to allow the competence of one private company to impact the business opportunities of another. Done right, Porteau can solve many of the missed opportunities at Furry Creek.
The current Furry Creek developers, Park Lane/Tanac, declared to the SLRD board that they practice Smart Growth initiatives. Most developers jump on board when they hear it means they don't have to build storm sewers and can have smaller road width dedications. Furry Creek's viability as a community was undermined when the SLRD board allowed the developers to delete essential elements of the approved Master Plan: the "downtown core" with shops, galleries, cafes, a marina and a waterfront inn. The Squamish-dominated Regional District board had incentive to force Furry Creekers to drive 20 minutes each way for a quart of milk. Its planners had the professional responsibility to insist that the commercial component be implemented.
Mayor Sutherland is "justifiably worried" about the proposed Porteau development because he fears it will divert tourism and investment dollars from Squamish. Protectionism is counter-productive. The notion that economic success must come at the expense of someone else is a misguided attitude of competition. Promoting Sea to Sky Country as a regional destination will attract far more tourism and investment dollars.
All corridor communities benefit from the success of their neighbours. For example, most current real estate listings in Squamish boast proximity to Whistler as a key selling point. The reverse is not yet true, but the Squamish transformation initiated in 2001 has revealed exhilarating potential.
Britannia Beach was the original poster child for Smart Growth: limited reliance on automobiles. It was water-access only until the late 1950s. People lived and worked and played in the same town. It defined Complete Community until the highway was driven straight through its heart to provide access to Squamish and Whistler. It is poised today to be the poster child for turnaround success stories. From the dubious distinction of being the most polluted site in North America, Britannia has set a plan in motion to become a charming coastal village. Concerned residents played a key role and deserve credit for their effort.
Community vigilance is needed to ensure the Porteau development is a Smart, complete one. With proper links, Porteau and Furry Creek have the potential to be mutually beneficial to each other. One less failure, one more success story in the corridor makes it that much better to live and play here.
"Smart Growth is a concept fully endorsed by Squamish and Whistler". The municipalities are eager to invoke the politically correct Smart Growth when they can use it to prevent smaller communities in the corridor from thriving and competing for economic activity. If they were sincere, Squamish and Whistler would be making applications to reduce their territory rather than working behind the scenes to expand their boundaries to the far edges of the Regional District. Density is the key tenet to ensuring sustainable communities. Squamish's downtown is nowhere near reaching its potential capacity. Yet recently approved subdivisions will be dependent on cars to get people to work and shop. Not so Smart.
Like most well intentioned ideas, Smart Growth is a concept often misappropriated by those with conflicting objectives. Bad politics should not trump good planning. Smart Growth is a goal, not merely a set of guidelines that can be selected like items off a menu to claim a badge.
Jennifer O'Donnell, Squamish
