By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Aug. 24, 2013
A proposed Garibaldi Estate subdivision is slowly moving ahead, nine months after it was approved in the council chambers.
This January, Squamish council gave fourth reading to the application by Holborn group for a 42 small-lot subdivision on Newport Ridge Drive in the Garibaldi Estates area.
That allows for single-family homes on small strata lots of approx. 300 square metres, or 3,229 square feet.
In an interview with the Reporter, the proponent said there is no fixed timeline for when the shovels go in the ground.
“We are waiting permission from the district to do some partial in stream work,” said Timothy Hng, the business development manager at Holborn group, the project proponent.
Hng said in stream work would be followed by soil testing at the site.
“We are waiting for the district to give us their feedback and comment on these issues,” he added.
Hng said Holborn hasn’t yet decided on whether they will simply subdivide the lots or build homes.
He expressed confidence in the local housing market.
“The Squamish market has its own peculiarities, but it’s chugging along right,” he said.
Holborn is a Vancouver based developer group and they bought the property from Townline Ventures.
Townline Ventures, readers might recall, tried to work out a deal with developer Doug Day to rezone some portions of the former golf course into 180 small lots. [manual_related_posts]
They also offered to build a road to Garibaldi Highlands, providing an access to the Highlands, where Townline also owns another property.
Squamish residents, meanwhile, were offered a gift of a 100-acre park, an offer that was rejected by the council.
District staff has been supportive of the small-lot subdivision, although the idea isn’t appealing to the neighbours who fear an increase in traffic and reduction in property values.
The small-lot subdivision on Newport Ridge satisfied smart growth criteria and fulfilled the most needed form of development, the planning staff noted in January.
“The proposed subdivision works well with surrounding uses and is within easy walking distance of amenities such as parks, trails, personal and commercial services as well as emergency services,” the staff noted.
Dave says
To those who have objected to this development:
I really object to those who move into new large lot sub-divisions and then feel that they have future control of all the land around them…..thus so wishing to restrict any newer smaller lot developments. They should have seen the future possibilities and not projected their selfishness in this manner. Young couples/families need a start and should have an opportunity to live in decent area. I cannot see how this proposed small lot sub-division will adversely effect the property values of these richer neighbours.
Sorry, no sympathy for these kinds of “speculators”. ….The worst kind of N.I.M.B.Y.ism. This kind of negativity has slowed down so many worthwhile projects. Stop it and go buy yourself an island!
Malcom says
Townline offers to build a alternate route to the Highlands as well as gifting a 100 acre park and council rejects it! Squashit! The Sea to Sky Rocketing Taxes! Wonderful!
Auli Parviainen says
What’s interesting is that there is actually no empirical evidence to indicate that property prices drop when density is increased. On the contrary, all data points to the opposite effect as densifying makes it more feasible for businesses to add services due to better economy of scale. I’d much rather see gentle densification of existing developments and neighbourhoods and more infill. This makes it financially more feasible to deliver infrastructure and upgrade it. And yes, Squamish needs to have a blend of housing options to offer affordable alternatives and small lot development is certainly that. Affordability is not only defined in terms of income, it also relates to your necessary expenses such as transportation costs (which tend to be very high for most in Squamish).