The Village: Bailey and Cleveland Ave intersection expected to be upgraded

The Bailey and Cleveland Avenue intersection will likely be upgraded as part of a new development that proposes 200 units on Bailey Street.

It is expected that the Bailey/Cleveland intersection will be upgraded to include a dedicated left turn receiving lane on Cleveland for traffic going from Bailey to Cleveland Avenue.

It will require a small amount of land dedication from the corner of the 38261 Cleveland Street lot, district says.

The district has received a development proposal to rezone 1331, 1251 and a portion of 1100 Bailey Street and 38261 Cleveland Avenue from Downtown Commercial and Rail Transportation to a Comprehensive Development Zone.

As many as 200 residential units and 224 jobs are being proposed in this development called The Village.

The district received a Transportation Impact Assessment from the developer in 2019, but that report needs to be updated as traffic has evolved since then, the district says.

District staff has also recommended to the developer that accesses to the project along Bailey Street be looked at more closely for sightlines, pedestrian safety and pedestrian access including the possibility of crosswalks.

“There will also be need to be changes made to the alignment of Bailey Street and the entrance to the Save On Foods plaza to make it safe for both pedestrians and vehicles if there is going to be an entrance to the property across from this location,” a recent staff report to Council notes.

The updated traffic impact study will also need to consider the potential future road connection from Third Avenue to Buckley.

Given traffic speed and volume on Bailey, the staff have proposed a 3.6 metre multi-use pathway be created along the north side for future active transportation uses and needs.

Parking and traffic impact, loss of existing trees, too much density, and concerns about only one downtown entrance were among comments the district received from local residents.

“I am concerned primarily that we only have one exit out of downtown Squamish currently and that this is going to make traffic a nightmare. The overcrowding of downtown with only one exit and a train that blocks that exit could pose grave risks to the safety of all downtown residents, as more and more get packed into such a small area, in the event of an emergency,” wrote one resident.

Another resident said that adding 200 residential units and commercial space would greatly increase traffic and noise in the area.

“Bailey street is already busy, getting out of the neighbourhood (i.e. turning from left Bailey onto Cleveland) is a nightmare, and the backups at the lights at Pemberton and Cleveland are increasing as well,” wrote another resident.