The District of Squamish has made the final stamp of approval for a development that will bring 44 market rental units, as well as Montessori childcare and employment space to Finch Drive.
On Oct. 4, council voted 6-1 in favour of adopting this rezoning application.
It would allow the proponent, Empowered Development, to build two four-storey buildings on 1001 Finch Drive. Staff said that while all residential units are rentals, it will not be allowed to be used as a hotel under its new comprehensive development zone, or CD-79, zoning.
Coun. Chris Pettingill was the sole dissenting vote.
The amenities promised by the project included a pedestrian crossing across Loggers Lane at Finch, a public park and trail, a public art mural and a promise that 50% of the gross floor area would be dedicated to employment space.
There was also a commitment to ban natural gas in the first building and to ban it in the upper three storeys of the second building. That space is intended for a business that serves food, as the gas is intended to be used for cooking.
The developer also promises $219,305 of cash in lieu of other critical amenities, active transportation and parks.
Council cast identical votes a month earlier during third reading, which was on Sept. 6. That day, elected officials gave statements as to why or why not they supported the project.
During third reading, Pettingill declined to support the project based on his concerns about the childcare facility, carbon emissions and the project's potential proximity to the path of the FortisBC Eagle Mountain — Woodfibre gas pipeline project.
Regarding childcare, he said he was not comfortable with the childcare agreement.
Under the deal, there will be a 20-year lease to a Montessori school.
Staff said if a tenant other than Montessori takes over the space before the end of the 20 years, they will not be obligated to provide childcare services. There is no class size or age programming commitment.
"We need to shoot for more," Pettingill said, referring to the duration of the lease.
Citing the climate emergency, Pettingill also wanted a no-gas covenant for the whole project, though it already has no-gas requirements for the majority of the spaces.
He also said he was uncomfortable adding more density to an area near the upcoming Fortis pipeline.
This was a concern also brought up by Hans Schaer, a resident who spoke during the public hearing that same day. Schaer said he was concerned a pipeline through a densely populated area would be a potential risk to safety.
Hunter Graham, another nearby resident, said he was concerned about the potential for the space to be used as a bar or nightclub. Staff responded that the zoning would not allow for a nightclub.
Graham also expressed concern about additional traffic, as many children play in the area.
Penny Clark, another member of the public, voiced her support for additional rental and childcare, but also was concerned about traffic. She requested a reduced speed zone.
Coun. John French said he supported the project based on the fact that it's creating more housing stock, childcare space and employment space.
While he supported the project, Coun. Doug Race took note of the public's concerns about traffic.
Race said a traffic study will consider this and possibly recommend traffic calming measures or a reduced speed zone.
Shading on an adjacent home was another issue he spoke of. He said there is a fair distance between the proposed building and that home.
The owner of that home, Aaron Kristiansen, said his place was designed to capture natural light for heating during the winter. Shading would block light from his house, which would impact his ability to provide environmentally-friendly energy for his home. He noted that council has been pushing to eliminate carbon emissions from homes.
"It is difficult to deal with that and eliminate it completely without almost eliminating most development," said Race. "So I think it is just something we have to understand, but [it's] not preventable entirely."
Mayor Karen Elliott supported the project, but added that the light impact mentioned by Kristiansen could be addressed during the building's development permit approvals.
She said it's important as more residents consider methods to reach net-zero emissions.
"I think we should be very careful about what we put in place to try and protect that right for people to put solar panels on their home and make sure they function most times of the year to provide energy for the home," Elliott said.
