Squamish Council will discuss a rezoning proposal for 1001 Finch Drive at 6 pm, where staff are recommending approval to replace three floors of unbuilt office space with about 30 market rental units.
The proposal asks Council to give three readings and to amend the Land Development Agreement so that all residential units are secured as purpose-built rentals. The changes would also reduce the required amount of employment space in the development from 50 percent to 22 percent.
Staff say converting roughly 2,000 square metres of planned office space into rental housing will not affect the ability to meet future office demand, noting declining interest in new office projects and the distance from commercial centres. In exchange, the project would deliver about 30 rental units, approximately 100 childcare spaces, and two parks, a connecting trail and a new crosswalk on Loggers Lane.
The property was rezoned in 2022 for a mixed-use project that included childcare, rental housing and employment uses. Building 1, which will contain the Squamish Montessori School on the first floor with rental housing above, has development permit approval but has not yet met the conditions for issuance.
Building 2 was intended to include commercial space at ground level with three floors of office space above; the applicant now wants to convert those upper floors into rental apartments.
Staff acknowledge the proposal differs from the general direction Council discussed at a September Committee of the Whole meeting about preserving office space. However, staff say the change will not affect the District’s overall employment land supply. They also argue the conversion will improve the project’s financial viability and help meet Squamish’s housing needs.
Council will decide tonight whether to move the rezoning forward and authorize amendments to the Land Development Agreement.
