Oceanfront Squamish has applied to the district to remove the cap on commercial area as the development moves forward.
The sub area plan created by the district and the developer had set the maximum amount of commercial use on the oceanfront at 27,666 square metre.
The original intention of the cap on commercial space was to prevent the Oceanfront from out-competing commercial space in the Downtown.
However, staff says the district has completed an employment modelling study, which indicates that demand for retail space is expected to exceed supply.
The existing land, staff says, with commercial zones is not adequate to meet the demand for retail space over the long term.
Council will be discussing this and other changes requested by the oceanfront developer, Matthews West, at a committee of the whole meeting next Tuesday, March 9.
Oceanfront Squamish also wants to include the use Education and Training Institution in two areas of the proposed development, a change that was approved by council in 2018 but never adopted.
The developer is exploring building much of the Oceanfront utilizing mass timber, which the district supports, although using timber will require more height in certain buildings.
In some specific areas, the staff proposes allowing a 3.5m height bonus and an increase to four storeys if the applicant builds with mass timber and provides over height commercial space.
The developer is also proposing reductions in parking requirements within pockets of the development, and some setback amendments.
The developer also proposes to reallocate density within the development, although there is no proposal to increase density.
