- An artist’s rendering of the Scott Crescent development, previously called Red Point. The rezoning application by Kingswood was put on hold by the district until the Mamquam Blind Channel Study was completed.
By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Nov. 3, 2012
A Waterfront walkway, a community centre, and a pedestrian bridge from Rose Park to the Spit are just some of the community amenities Kingswood might bring to the table, if they came with a development application at all.
And John Moonen says it’s still a big IF.
Kingswood is warily approaching the district to make enquiries from the planning department about the Upper Mamquam Blind Channel Study.
Kingswood media spokesperson Moonen said it’s crucial to note the developers are not going in with a development application.
The proponents haven’t even decided if they want to go ahead with the project at all, he said.
“Lorne Segal still has to decide if it makes sense to do this development,” Moonen said.
Kingswood has been trying to get their development off the ground for past five years now.
Kingswood’s application to rezone the 8.3 acre property from Tourist-Commercial to Residential was put on hold by the district in 2011.
In 2008, the Red Point development failed to get third reading, and two years later, an application to build a RV park was also rejected.
The study had been five years in the making, and was presented to the district in June.
Moonen said Kingswood is meeting the planning staff to raise a few questions about the study.
“There were some bits that are very detailed and there were others that are left vague,” Moonen said.
“We didn’t know how binding it is, and what kind of a guide it is.”
In the meantime, Kingswood has looked at the study, and brainstormed on what they could contribute.
Waterfront walkway would be one important contribution.
It would stretch from the intersection of Highway 99 and Scott, all along into what is Scott Crescent, into Owen Carney’s place and further into the DeCook property, right up to municipal property, and Perry Beckham’s land.
“We are also looking at contributing to a pedestrian bridge from Rose Park to the Spit, so there would be a continuous loop for trail users,” he added.
Another amenity would be a meeting room that could be used by various community groups.
The community room could accommodate 40 to 60 people, and would be a perfect place for charities and social service groups.
There are still unanswered questions, however, about the most crucial question facing this development: Traffic access south of the site.
Although the Scott Crescent would be improved and widened to make it a two-lane road, it would provide the only access out of town to Vancouver.
Hospital Hill resident Paul Russell wondered if the proponents had considered other possibilities, such as a tunnel or an underpass similar to the one off Government road on Highway 99.
Eric Andersen said the Kingswood should be commended for the effort they are making in meeting community organisations.
It’s unfortunate, however, that the recently completed Upper Mamquam Blind Channel provides less than adequate guidance to the possibilities for a community benefit.
“Some opportunities were missed altogether in the UMBC Plan document, due to inadequate consultation,” he said.
Moonen said the proponents, too, have several questions about the study.
He said the development, if it moved forward, would still be a year off from the public hearing,
“We are taking it one step at a time,” Moonen added.
TCee says
Why not simply pave over the Mamquam Blind Channel and kill off all the environmental benefits and biodiversity in and around it? And, at the same time rend the viewscape into Squamish as an ugly concrete mass,, while making a mess of traffic? Contrary to what the article says, there are other crucial issues besides traffic. This development is inapppropriate for this environmentally sensitive and unique area and would do a great disservice to Squamish, at a time when Squamish is trying to resurrect its image. The amenities being proposed are laughable – a meeting room for the community! That already exists at the Seniors’ Centre. Or a smaller one at the SAC building, or in the Adventure Centre, or even Brennan Park under its on-going reorganization. Contributing to a bridge from Rose Park! For a multi-million dollar project not much of an amenity or contribution. A waterfront walkway? Aren’t there enough paved trails in that area alread?. And what impact does yet more pavement have on the envrionmental sensitivities of the Blind Channel? Finally, given the plethora of condos in Squamish, does Squamish really need another phalanx of corrosive condos, intruding on its spectacular landscape and hovering over the highway? Time for Mr. Moonen to move back to his Liberal Party’s roots!