Residents of North Yards are fighting to keep their family homes and neighbourhood residential. In 2004, four properties were classified as Industrial (I-8) in the Official Community Plan.
After years of letters, phone calls and meetings by the residents to fix this, District of Squamish planners have instead decided to aggressively pursue keeping these properties classified Industrial. Squamish Planners have now put forward a proposal for an Industrial 1 designation.
Businesses that fall under this category include massage parlours, vehicle repair shops and outside fabrication. If this proposal is successful, an existing home will be torn down and a three-storey industrial complex will be built in this well established, well maintained neighbourhood. This proposal does not even have a buffer or fence!
The majority of the homeowners fall into categories: retired or nearing retirement age or young families. One affected homeowner built his home 39 years ago;another family with four children has done extensive renovations to its home.
Squamish has many vacant Industrial buildings and land. Neighbourhoods do not need to be destroyed for unnecessary industrial development.
A website with more information and a petition has been created at www.savenorthyards.com and a Facebook group, Save North yards, has also been formed.
Jim Whittaker
Squamish
