A two-building mixed-used development with four residential apartments has been approved for 37781 Cleveland Ave., which is in downtown Squamish.
Council voted unanimously in favour of granting a development permit to Elevation Collective Ltd. during their meeting on July 16.
There were, however, some concerns about the project. A variance to increase height to 19.45 metres, up from 15.6 metres was included in the permit to allow one of the buildings to put solar panels on its roof.
Mayor Karen Elliott said that since builders in B.C. are trying to reach net-zero energy standards by 2032, solar will likely be a popular option in the near future.
Neighbours of this property could get shadowed, forcing them to seek a height variance as well, she said.
There was also a concern that in the future, neighbouring property owners might build structures to the property lot line that could shadow some or all of the balconies in this development.
Coun. Doug Race added in a stipulation to the building's advisory covenant that would provide "notice to development that adjoining property owners may develop to the lot line."
Council agreed to the modification.
Residential space will make up 45 per cent of the gross floor area, while employment spaces will make up 55 per cent of the area.
"Since rezoning, the applicants have shifted from 66 per cent residential [gross floor area space] to 45 per cent residential [gross floor area space], reducing residential units from five units to four and increasing their overall employment space from 270 square metres to 492 square metres," reads a staff report presented to council.
"This shift is in line with the Official Community Plan Land Use for the area and the original intention of the MUD-2 zone, which was designed to honour Downtown South's industrial roots by ensuring a higher percentage of employment space is preserved during redevelopment."
