Council to consider permit for six-storey rental building in Valleycliffe

Squamish Council will review a development permit application at a council meeting on January 7 for a six-story rental building at 38201 Westway Avenue in Valleycliffe. The development brings 45 rental units, a mix of studio, one-bed and two-bedroom, and commercial space on the ground floor.

The building design includes four floors of market rental housing, a rooftop amenity space, and 214 square meters of commercial space divided into three units. The applicant has revised the commercial layout to address the current challenge of having a single, large unit.

According to the applicant, the existing commercial space has become dated and proved difficult to attract tenants. Although
smaller, the applicant says, the new commercial space will be more attractive to potential clients.

The developer is also seeking variances, which the district staff supports. They include reducing open space from 30% of the lot to 312 square meters and increasing the building height limit from 10.68 meters to 20.57 meters. A reduction in parking is also sought, from 96 to 82 parking spaces.

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The project will retain a mixed-use building on the site while replacing an attached commercial unit. The 5.62-hectare site, bordered by Westway Avenue and Maple Drive, includes protected riparian zones. Despite the subject site’s proximity to a watercourse to the north, the proposal is exempt from some guidelines as the new building will have the same footprint as the existing building within the Riparian Assessment Area.

However, an environmental protection covenant is still required to protect and restore riparian areas.

A parking study estimates demand for 72 spaces, fewer than the 82 spaces planned. Each unit will have a spot with extra commercial and visitor spaces. The development also provides 113 bike parking spaces, secured storage, a bike wash, and outdoor visitor bike facilities.