Garibaldi Highlands residents support a corner store and coffee shop in their community, according to a survey by the District of Squamish.
Survey results indicate that 50% of Garibaldi Highlands residents want a corner store, while the same proportion supports a coffee shop. Other services, such as child care facilities and restaurants, received lower levels of support, with 28.8% and 22.9% of residents favoring them, respectively. The council staff noted that all other proposed uses received less than 20% support.
The survey drew a significant number of responses from the Garibaldi Highlands, with 77% of participants coming from the area. District staff noted that the high participation reflects community interest in proposed changes that would allow small-scale commercial uses along The Boulevard.
Proposed Zoning Changes to Support Local Needs
The council report outlines two proposed zoning amendment bylaws: One includes modernizing Local Commercial (C-1) and Liquor Primary Establishment Commercial (C-6) zones to improve the viability of existing neighbourhood nodes. The second amendment specifically targets the Garibaldi Highlands, proposing to allow cafés, coffee shops, and convenience stores on properties currently zoned residential along The Boulevard.
These amendments aim to support the creation of small neighbourhood nodes where residents can walk or bike to meet daily needs, aligning with Squamish’s Strategic Plan and Official Community Plan objectives. While concerns were raised about traffic, parking, and safety along The Boulevard, council staff noted that the proposed bylaw limits commercial uses to properties with full street infrastructure, including sidewalks, bike lanes, and formalized on-street parking. The maximum size for cafés, coffee shops, and convenience stores would be 100 m², keeping development small and in line with the neighbourhood character.
Survey participants also indicated a preference for locating new commercial uses in areas with minimal impact on existing residences. The council report states that existing commercial nodes such as Valleycliffe, Garibaldi Estates, and the Tantalus node were widely supported, as were new nodes at University, St. Joseph’s Church in Garibaldi Highlands, and the west end of Pia Road.
Based on community input, the Garibaldi Highlands node amendments focus solely on food-based uses such as café, coffee shop, and convenience store, to serve everyday needs. All other initially proposed commercial uses, such as restaurants and wellness services, were pared back due to lower community support. The changes are intended to foster a complete, walkable neighbourhood while preserving the residential character, the engagement report says.
50% of ALL Highlands residents or 50% of the people who identified themselves as Highlands residents when they filled out the survey (77% of people who filled out the survey)? Those numbers would be completely different! As we don’t know the number of participants, the results mean nothing and the District Staff seems to be once again spinning the story to fit what they want to do.
Not good enough, Staff, we can see thru you.