There’s a been step forward for a development that aims to remake the area in front of the Britannia Beach Mining Museum.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has passed first reading for rezoning and OCP amendment bylaws that would allow Macdonald Development to go ahead with its plan to construct a mixed residential and commercial development.
Macdonald’s most current proposal includes 60 for-purchase townhomes at market rate, 13 for-purchase live-work townhomes and 14 rental apartments.
Britannia Oceanfront Developments Corporation, the subsidiary of Macdonald taking care of this project, also proposes to preserve 12 heritage buildings in the area.
“Adequate water supply, public safety, support of the Ministry of Transportation are all critical to any rezoning application moving beyond first reading,” said Jack Crompton, chair of Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.
Crompton emphasized that this is just the first in what will be a series of many steps, and terms will likely be subject to change, especially after the process going through public hearing.
There were a slew of conditions that were attached to the motion, some of which appeared to be responses to concerns that Britannia Beach residents laid out in a public information meeting last fall.
One of the key points seemed to address worries about flooding in the area. Historically, nearby dams elevated flood risks in the area, but many of those structures have since been decommissioned.
The development would also be close to Britannia Creek.
Last fall, some residents appeared to be worried that flood management for the proposed development could become a costly endeavour.
“Public safety is always one of the primary considerations during any rezoning application,” said Crompton. “This piece of land has a history to it. That river has a history to it, and we need to ensure that whatever is built there is safe.”
As part of the resolution just passed, the SLRD stipulated that the development must have a flood and debris control regime approved by the regional district board and supported by the SLRD director of engineering.
There must also be a new service area established for cost recovery of related operations and maintenance costs. Arrangements must also be made to determine who would be included in the service area and how to attain their electoral consent.
Furthermore, the SLRD is asking the developer to consider placing $285,000 into a reserve fund to repair or replace the debris net should a one-in-50 year flood or debris event occur before the fund has had time to grow.
The SLRD also asked that building floodproofing measures be put in place.
Authorities would also have to approve the proposed water supply for the area, and Macdonald would have to construct an additional cell for the Britannia Beach lower reservoir.
The regional district also asked the company to implement measures to preserve heritage buildings.
