The District of Squamish is holding a public hearing to rezone the public property to allow for a mixed-use development at 1001 Finch Drive.
The property was located on the southeast corner of Loggers Lane and Finch Drive. The public hearing will be held at the council chambers.
The rezoning will replace a new Comprehensive Development Zone to allow for a mixed-use development with a childcare facility, employment space, including a hotel and 44 purpose built rentals. The mixed-use development proposal consists of two four-storey buildings and is considered a Priority Development Application given the 100% purpose-built market rental housing component
The staff report to council has suggested slightly reducing the amount of off-street parking to increase the amount of common useable open space. The District also wants to see a Finch Drive road design, and the developers are asked to consider planning for end of trip facilities and bike parking, particularly for the childcare space.
The property was historically used for rural residential uses, including horse stables, paddocks, and riding rings.
After the property changed ownership in 2017, the residential and equestrian uses ceased, and all structures and buildings were removed. A Temporary Use Permit was issued in June of 2021 for the Squamish Montessori School for two portables to be placed on site, providing 50 childcare spaces.
A rezoning application was submitted in June 2021 to allow for the mixed-use development as currently proposed.
Della Halvorson says
“The staff report to council has suggested slightly reducing the amount of off-street parking” – really? We continue to see the effects of Reduced parking and it is not only ridiculous, but dangerous. We keep hearing staff saying “Squamish doesn’t have a parking problem” but obviously it is the exact opposite. Maybe what we should be doing is asking developers to design to current parking requirements and down the road if they can prove that the parking areas are underutilized, they can then use the space differently.
David Lassmann says
I don’t see how this can be public property if ownership has changed hands.
I guess the plan is to continue with the District’s policy of converting rural properties in the floodplain to high density multi-family housing. So much for agricultural land!
What exactly is “employment space”? Sounds like commercial space to me.
What is the purpose of the “purpose built market rental housing”? My guess is that this is Newspeak for subsidized housing, but it might mean that the units cannot be sold as individual strata lots for owners to live in.
I guess the reduction in parking will make sense when cars become too expensive for most of us to own one.