Project Updates

REZONING

In January, Squamish Council approved the Sub Area Plan for the Oceanfront Peninsula. The Sub Area Plan provides a broad framework for land use within the Official Community Plan.  Since this approval, the SODC has taken the next step in the process and has applied to re-zone the SODC property. While the Sub Area Plan provides a broad list of land uses, rezoning takes a specific land use and applies it to a certain area.

Currently, the lands are zoned for industrial use. The SODC is applying for Comprehensive Development Zoning. This is consistent with the overall SODC plan and includes residential, commercial, recreational, educational and park use.

The next step in the process is the public information session on September 22, 7pm in the Garibaldi Room at the Howe Sound Inn.  This will be followed by 1st and 2nd reading and adoption by Squamish Council.

Park Update

The SODC has been working on a number of initiatives with regard to the Oceanfront Park. 

• Initial designs for the 11 acres of parkland have been completed.
• The Environmental Assessment application has been received favourably within the Ministry of the Environment.  The process is ongoing. 
• The SODC is investigating a variety of free sources of fill material for the park to reduce park construction costs.

Environmental Update

SODC continues to make progress on the overall remediation of the site.   Over the past few months, the following milestones have been reached:

• The Blue Barn clean-up is complete. In 2010, the Ministry of the Environment permitted the Blue Barn to be decommissioned.  With support from a Brownfield funding grant, the SODC immediately developed and implemented a plan to decontaminate, decommission and remove the affected water tanks, equipment and piping.   
• SODC has received additional Brownfield funding to commence detailed environmental investigations on the former GBA Logging site on the northern end of the SODC lands.