The public has had their final say on the Garibaldi Springs development at a well attended public hearing on Tuesday that saw plenty of support and opposition for the project on the former golf course.
The ambitious plan by Polygon Homes to redevelop the Garibaldi Springs Golf Course includes 350 new homes of varying types and 86 acres of public parkland and habitat restoration.
“I hope that we have demonstrated our willingness to listen and adapt with this plan, and we are looking forward to earning the community's trust in the execution of this plan, should we be given the opportunity,” said Polygon spokesperson Kevin Shoemaker.
In order to build on the land, Polygon is requesting an OCP amendment and zoning changes.
The votes leading up to the public hearing were tight, with four councillors in favour of the plan and three opposed. Public feedback has also been varied since the project was first proposed.
On Tuesday night representatives from Sea to Sky Community Services applauded Polygon’s proposal to partner with them to provide a daycare.
In addition, five per cent of the project, or 18 units, will be designated affordable. A full list of amenities, including cash contributions to housing and traffic, is listed on the District's website.
“It’s remarkable that the proposal includes a daycare on site and we welcome that,” said Sea to Sky executive director Lois Wynne.
A representative from Squamish Streamkeepers also expressed support for the project and the promises from the company to restore sensitive fish-bearing habitat.
The project also has the support of the Executive Suites Hotel, Norman Rudy’s restaurant, the organizers of the Spakwus 50 bike race, the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association and the Squamish Trails Society.
The Squamish River Watershed Society said it will not take a position on the project, but said they will “welcome the opportunity” to work on any land restoration.
The project also faced many critics on Tuesday evening, including a petition from the “Keep Garibaldi Springs Green” group that has collected over 1,300 signatures against the development.
“We, as a group opposing this development, don’t have means to provide an art gallery, nor a seniors project, daycare or childcare. We have no lobby capacity; we can’t sponsor a race or make any promises to the chamber and the business community. We don’t have any contracts for work to hand out or remediation or environmental work, and we have no business to offer the hotel or bar,” said homeowner Adam Smith, referencing some of the amenities on offer from the developer.
“So we rely on you, council, to uphold the community’s plan as laid out in the past and present OCP,” he said.
Both the previous and new Official Community Plans do not zone the majority of the private land for residential development.
Other nearby homeowners who spoke at the public hearing also expressed concern that they had assumed the former green-zoned golf course would remain undeveloped when they purchased their homes.
The development will also create additional traffic pressure in the area, including the already busy Tantalus Road, some said.As a short-term solution, District staff proposed a new right in and out access at Newport Ridge Drive off the highway and traffic signal changes at Garibaldi Way.
District staff clarified that Tantalus Road will not be widened to four lanes under the new project. Instead it will remain two lanes, but street-side parking spaces will be added, according to staff.
The project will be up for third reading at a future council meeting.
