Election questionnaire: Eric Andersen

Name:

Eric Andersen

How many years have you lived in Squamish?

38

How many council or committee meetings have you attended since Sept. 1, 2017?

30 (At least 3 per month)

What do you love most about Squamish? (150 word limit)

Distinct neighbourhoods and commercial/ employments areas are each separated from each other by green space ‰ÛÒ bush or rock or riparian areas. At the edge of the ocean and at the bottom of the mountains and numerous valleys, there are always places to explore. The city is easy enough to visit and easy enough to forget or avoid.

Are you endorsing a particular candidate for mayor? (question for councilor candidates)

No/Not at this time

What do you think is the biggest single issue facing Squamish? (150 words limit)

Biggest ongoing, long term issue of today: The need to balance residential development growth with local jobs growth and protection of employment and economic development land assets.

Biggest immediate issue of today: Lack of affordable housing across the housing needs spectrum.

In the last term, what was council's single greatest accomplishment? What was council's biggest failure? (150 character limit)

 Accomplishment: Integrated Flood Hazard Management Plan

Too often: Lacking negotiations with diverse land owners and developments for community interests

Residents often complain about traffic (speeding, parking etc.) What would you do to improve traffic and parking in Squamish? (150 words limit)

More neighbourhood consultation on traffic safety, involving school district.

Driver visibility is often poor due to roadside vegetation needing maintenance.

The toolkit for traffic calming today includes more than just speed bumps. There are various alternatives to try out.

Parking spaces in zoning and subdivision bylaws needs attention to a reality check! Parking spaces downtown, at municipal hall and Library, at hospital and Hilltop House, and multi-family complexes everywhere are insufficient.  Our downtown "high street" revitalization efforts are frustrated if parking is inconvenient for visitors.

A parkade for downtown constructed in wood is a proven option, more attractive, easily recycled or re-purposed for other uses to avoiding need to tie up valuable urban land with a concrete structure.

A long term solution for parking demand is local jobs and less need for commuter cars.

Squamish has a housing affordability crisis. What would you do to improve affordability? (150 words limit)

Establishing a housing authority entity should not be delayed. Its functions can be more than property management and should included ongoing monitoring and needs analysis.

Squamish should not be the solution to the Lower Mainland's housing affordability problems. The District must actively participate in collaborative regional advocacy efforts encouraging policy and program measures (e.g., co-op housing) on the part of senior governments.

Housing construction industry experience and advice  on development application approvals process costs and inefficiencies, and building technology and methods, are too often not well enough brought into the discussion.

Temporary, modular solutions for employee housing should be implemented.

Local factory housing system production is an economic development opportunity -- high wage jobs. Become an affordable housing solutions exporter.

Do you support stronger regulation of AirBNB?

Business Licences & monitoring instead. New platforms would replace AirBnB anyway.

How would you attract new businesses and employers to Squamish? (150 words limit)

A District Economic Action Plan exists and its implementation needs to be better supported with increased budgeting and staffing. The Plan includes targeting several local economic sectors for strategy development.

Plan oversight should be transferred to an entity at arm's length from the elected Council ‰ÛÒ for program continuity and better accountability.

An Economic Development department does not manage land use and assets planning or taxes and other conditions. Collaboration across departments and with business community organizations is essential.

Serious constraints in the form of land uncertainty exists for several business sectors, undermining investor confidence. The OCP and other plans only provide a framework or identify needs ‰ÛÒ but not yet solutions for sites, land.

Land use uncertainty and lack of suitable premises for is a major problem needing to be addressed.

Do you have a strategy to implement regional transit? (150 word limit)

Private sector services (e.g., Squamish Connector) have proven to deliver good service at reasonable prices without cost to the taxpayer, have capacity to expand, and deserve full consideration.

Local transit schedules should facilitate bringing passengers to regional bus service stops.

Neighbourhood Park & Ride facilities require formalized plans.

Passenger ferry vessel types clearly exist which are suitable for a Squamish-to-Downtown Vancouver regular service.

Waterfront planning should consider future ferry vessel docking and vehicle parking facilities.

An updated corridor rail study should be undertaken.

Railway option requires attention to preserving infrastructure (wyes, spurs) and planning for vehicle parking

Both passenger rail and ferry service planning must consider tourism opportunities and benefits, as well as potential use by commuters.

Given limited financial resources, what do you think is the single highest priority for Brennan Park? (150 word limit)

The planning priorities must be the larger facility investments with no location alternatives or options elsewhere: second sheet of ice; additional turf fields to alleviate ongoing field maintenance costs. Facilities for arts and culture programming are clearly lacking in the community ‰ÛÒ not least for youth ‰ÛÒ and should also be prioritized.

Brennan Park is an obvious, advantageous location for a community performing arts centre ‰ÛÒ with cheap land (for the District), ample parking, and central, accessible location (bike path and transit).

A long term lease for the Loggers Sports Grounds should also be a priority, with discussion of integrated uses ‰ÛÒ recognizing Squamish Days festival needs and the volunteer investments in the facilities.

Do you support cannabis retail shops in Squamish?

Locations and hours must be strictly regulated

Would you consider yourself pro-WLNG or anti-WLNG?

Very supportive (1)

Are you supportive of the Garibaldi At Squamish project?

Somewhat supportive (2)

Do you support development of the Cheema Lands (Lot 509/510)?

Very supportive (1)