At a council meeting today, the District of Squamish Council will review a Development Variance Permit application for Phase 2 of the Garibaldi Springs residential community. Polygon requests an increase in the allowable height for several buildings after a technical error in calculations was discovered during the building permit review.
If approved, the variance would raise the maximum height for buildings 30 through 38 in Phase 2, changing the height from 10.68 meters to 13.29 meters. A staff report says this adjustment is needed to comply with flood construction standards, as these buildings sit on lower ground and are prone to flood hazards.
Initially, the Development Permit approved on July 18, 2023, included a variance allowing building heights up to 11.18 meters. However, District staff later found that they had incorrectly calculated the height from the finished grade instead of the natural lower grade, as required by zoning laws.
This new application corrects that miscalculation.
The District of Squamish staff report emphasized that no design changes have been made to the buildings since the initial permit was approved in July. The new height figures reflect only technical recalculations, leaving the finished grades and building elevations as previously approved.
The Council’s decision on this height adjustment will finalize the specifications for buildings 30 through 38 in the Garibaldi Springs project, ensuring they meet flood standards without altering the approved design.
