Community feedback invited on land use scenarios in Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood planning process

The District of Squamish has launched a multi-week public engagement as part of the next step in the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Planning Process. The District is seeking feedback from the community on a series of possible land use scenarios for how the Garibaldi Estates could evolve over the next 20 years. With anticipated population growth in B.C. of 1.38 million by 2041, Squamish will need to plan how it will absorb its share of that growth, in particular due to its proximity to the BC Lower Mainland. BC Stats projects Squamish’s growth rate to be an average of 1.7% annually through 2043. At that rate, the Squamish population would reach at least 35,000 in 20 years. 

The community is invited to shape this growth through the next step of the planning process. Land use scenarios and ways to provide input are available at letstalksquamish.ca/garibaldi-estates-plan. 

The community is invited to explore, discuss and provide input online and at one of seven engagement sessions between February 27 and March 9. Each meeting will discuss the same information. The smaller group size at each meeting will provide residents with direct access to staff to ask questions and discuss the proposed scenarios. Residents can register for a meeting that fits their schedule at letstalksquamish.ca/garibaldi-estates-plan.  

“Change over 20 years is inevitable, and this neighbourhood planning process is the opportunity for residents to help shape that change in Garibaldi Estates and imagine the future of the neighbourhood together,” says District of Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford. “This process provides the community with a voice to preserve and enhance the things they love. It is widely recognized that Squamish is a desirable location with tremendous growth pressures and the challenges that come along with that. Without a neighbourhood plan, the Garibaldi Estates would evolve in a way that only considers individual development interests, rather than a vision for the neighbourhood as a whole, shaped with the direct input of the community.” 

Six sub areas have been created within the Garibaldi Estates neighbourhood to explore land use scenarios in detail. Each sub area has two or three land use scenarios to consider, which include a variety of housing forms, heights, and densities. The land use scenarios were developed based on input from the community provided earlier in the neighbourhood planning process. Each sub area includes a scenario with no increase in height proposed. Each of the land use scenarios continue to allow for single-family homes, secondary suites, and accessory dwelling units, where these are currently permitted.  

There are four steps residents can take to participate: 

1. Review the land use scenarios (there are 2-3 for each sub-area, so 17 in total). 
2. Review the Emerging Ideas.  
3. Register for and attend one of seven engagement sessions to discuss the scenarios. 
4. Complete the survey to register your feedback by March 28.  

 Feedback from this stage of the process will be used to inform a draft neighbourhood plan. The draft neighbourhood plan is expected to be developed through summer 2023.   

Learn more

View the scenarios online (or download pdfs), register for an engagement session, and learn more at LetsTalkSquamish.ca. Hard copies of the scenarios will be available for pickup at Brennan Park Recreation Centre, Municipal Hall and The 55 Activity Centre. 

February 14, 2023