By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Dec. 5, 2012
With Coun. Susan Chapelle opposed, Squamish council gave third reading to the drive-through bank and restaurant, making way for a CIBC and a second Tim Hortons in town.
Couns Patricia Heintzman and Bryan Raiser dithered with their approval, but Couns Doug Race and Ron Sander had little, if any, doubt about the project.
Heintzman said she was reluctantly voting in favour of the project.
“I’d say bank and the type of jobs that come with a bank would affect my decision,” she said.
Heintzman said she would like to discuss the creation of a policy that discourages the drive-through culture.
Coun. Ron Sander said the project was a good development that would clean up the site, provide good jobs in the community.
He said he understand people have concerns and is willing to debate the issue, along with the public input.
“We need to have an OCP type conversation, but not a discussion about individual property owners, and individual developments,” he said.
Chapelle said the idea of an OCP is to support the downtown core with institutional growth and commercial retail activity.
“I want people to stop and drive into our community,” she said.
“No doubt developers want to capitalise on the highway, but we can’t allow decision that take us away from our guiding documents.”
Coun. Doug Race said while Downtown First is the OCP mantra, it can’t be Downtown Only.
“We have given continued attention to our downtown core, but there are other parts that require commercial development,” he said.
Work on the project is expected to start as early as March next year.
Dave says
Good job. Democracy sometimes works!
Jane Iverson says
Drive throughs on the highway do not encourage anyone, be they local or from out of town, to stop and explore the many amenities our town has to offer. It is a sad statement about the type of clientele living in that area who are too lazy to drive “all the way downtown” to shop in our unique stores, eat in real food cafes, or do their banking. Glad to say I am not ‘one of them’.
Dave says
Actually Jane, many of us visit stores in all areas of our District to shop…This is how it should be…Its called Diversity of Choice. And its great,sometimes, to walk to my local stores in Garibaldi Estates, thus avoiding an excess of being ” too lazy” instead of driving everywhere! This I am glad to say.
Jeff Cripwell says
Coming from the lower mainland i am not concerned about the location, I am however concerned about excessive growth here. I moved here for the activities and a slower pace to life with the ability to reach Whistler and Vancouver in a fair amount of time, whilst still living in the mountains. We in Squamish are truly blessed.
i am extatic however in the fact that CIBC is coming to town, i have been doing only internet banking since i got here. WOOOHOOO.
Rock on Squampton peeps