The District of Squamish is supporting the reduction of 284 parking spots at a significant new development proposed in the University Highlands neighbourhood. The development permit application by Andrews Development Corporation proposes 424 residential units and seeks to reduce the required parking stalls from 723 to 439.
“The applicants have advised that reducing the required parking spaces improves the project’s financial viability, given the cost associated with constructing parkades, particularly on steep sites such as the subject property,” the staff report notes. “Staff support the parking variance request given that a reduced parking requirement will help support transit in the neighbourhood, encourage use of alternative forms of transportation and increase the viability of a project proposing affordable and market rental residential units.”
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The proposed mixed-use project includes five apartment buildings and 11 multiplex or townhome blocks. Of the 424 units, 32 would be secured as affordable housing and 95 as market rental and protected through housing agreements. The development site is near the Capilano University campus.
In a report to council, staff notes that having full parking would alter the project’s design and layout, especially on a steep site. The applicant proposes a shared-use model for commercial parking stalls, with spaces used for residential parking overnight and switched to commercial use during business hours. The developers have also proposed building more than double the required residential bicycle parking and will contribute to constructing two new BC Transit bus shelters to improve public transit infrastructure in the area.
District staff support the variance request, citing alignment with Official Community Plan policies that aim to reduce single-occupancy vehicle use, support alternate transportation modes, and encourage the development of affordable and rental housing. Council is being asked to provide early direction on the parking variance before the application proceeds to formal consideration.
The application will be discussed by the council at a Committee of the Whole Meeting on Tuesday, May 13.
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N. Desjarlais says
Where are people going to park ? Where ? Where ? I can’t even imagine the chaos … living in the area with every single house having a rental unit is already a parking nightmare. Tourist and bike enthusiasts are parking everywhere in front of our houses. Locals, day trippers , Garibaldi park goers, speeding through school zones , dump truck after dump truck every single day. Kids and young people walking to classes and school. This area is not equipped to handle the traffic , 1 road in and out. Add thousands more people and all with cars because there are no amenities around here to walk to. 2 cars families are going to buy these places as starter homes . What is the district thinking …. For real… what the heck?
Helen Habgood says
I have no objection to the development. However – the parking variance?? This location is up on top of a steep hill – not all people are going to cycle up here. Many of the residents will be fairly well off people who will have lots of toys – mountain bikes, skis, snowmobiles, watercarft, etc. that they will transport often with full size pick-up trucks. So please, provide adequate parking as many of the residents will be two vehicle households. The bus service is inadequate, and it is impractical to take all those toys on the bus.
In addition, this development will add significantly to the traffic on University Blvd. So please install some traffic calming measures (e.g. speed humps) to slow down all those vehicles that come speeding down the hill and go zipping through the roundabout at the intersection with Perth, just before the school zone on The Boulevard. And while you’re at it, install some sign instructing proper use of roundabouts.