Two controversial projects laid to rest in one evening.
On Tuesday night council voted to move forward both the Garibaldi Springs development and approve the first part of a land swap deal between Polygon Homes and the Squamish Senior Citizens Housing Society.
Council’s vote to pass the third reading for the six-storey market development at 38201 Third Ave. was unanimous. After adoption, it will allow the Squamish Senior Citizens Housing Society to go ahead on their plans for a new high-capacity affordable housing building.
At a public hearing last week, council heard both residents speak in both support and opposition for the unusual project.
The Squamish Senior Citizens Housing Society has proposed selling Polygon a portion of their land — originally designated for seniors housing — in order to fund a high capacity affordable seniors complex.
“We’re lucky in Squamish that we have forward-thinking nonprofits,” said Coun. Karen Elliott. “The Senior Citizens Housing Society saw that… our fastest growing cohort is 65 to 74. Now they’re bringing forward a proposal that not only takes care of their waitlist but gives hope to the residents living in The Manor and The Cedars.”
The project was supported by councillors Elliott, Doug Race, Ted Prior, Jason Blackman-Wulff and Mayor Patricia Heintzman. Peter Kent was absent from the meeting.
Heintzman noted that she didn’t want to delay the project, but would have liked to see some affordable units set aside as part of the six-storey project. The full $3.6-million in community amenity dollars will go to the Senior Citizens Housing Society.
Coun. Susan Chapelle raised several concerns about the project, including her perspective that Polygon had underpaid for the land and her desire to see multiple developers bid for the project.
“I like the land swap, and I like that seniors put this together. But to pay such a little amount and not have any community amenities in the full six-storey market housing building, is concerning to me,” she said.
Despite her misgivings, Chapelle said she didn’t want to be a “disruptive vote” and decided to vote in support so the decision could be unanimous.
Council also adopted the plan for the Garibaldi Springs land on Tuesday night, the final vote in a long process to allow Polygon to develop a new residential development on the former golf course lands.
Garibaldi Springs passed third reading last month in a close 4 to 3 vote. The decision on Tuesday was a formality since third reading is not usually overturned at the final adoption phase.
