Kingswood Developer Opts for RV Park in Place of Red Point Squamish
As originally noted in the Pique Magazine, the real estate developer Kingswood wont’ wait for area planning, sites lengthy procedure and unclear agenda as of this point for this Squamish real estate development.

By Paul C. A few weeks after a fiery public hearing sunk a rezoning application for the controversial Red Point real estate development in Squamish, property developer Kingswood Properties has announced plans to develop its Upper Mamquam Blind Channel (UMBC) land as a RV park. “We are proceeding with an RV park, which is a permitted use under the current zoning and the only option which makes economic sense,” said Kingswood Properties President Lorne Segal in a July 30 press release. Councillor Greg Gardner who voted against the proposed rezoning of the Red Point Squamish land, said the Kingswood Property developer is within their rights to develop an RV park, but noted tha the maximum stay is for 30 days and so mobile homes would not find their way on site. “I personally believe there are higher and better uses for the site,” he said. Red Point Squamish condo apartments was planned for a portion of the channel visible from Highway 99, at the southern entrance to sQuamish. It called for over 200 apartment pre-construction Red Point condo units, some of which had already attracted down payments, but excluded commercial from the vast majority of the Mamquam Blind Channel UMBC land. Still, it was in line with the Official Community Plan Squamish vision for the area, though critics say that description is antiquated. After years of planning, the Kingswood Properties Squamish real estate developers ran into problems with their traffic strategy, and a number of rezoning efforts were rejected, with the most recent dividing council right down the middle. Kingswood Properties – who returned down payments with interest – had been silent up to this point. The July 30 press release suggests strain between the Squamish district and the real estate developer, with Segal announcing his dissapointment in the failed rezoning, despite staff support and what they frame as approval from the Ministry of Transportation and the community at large.

More about the failed attempt to re-zone Squamish Mamquam Blind Channel for Red Point Living Squamish apartment suites
“Well, I guess I’m concerned about the fact that he particular real estate developent has put three years worth of time and effort into the proposal and ultimately wasn’t acceptable to council,” said Councillor Gardner. “I want to move along the process that council initiated in December. I see us moving along as quickly as possible with a planning process that would let landowners in that area know what council’s vision for the area is.” The process launched in December calls for the whole Squamish Upper Mamquam Blind Channel UMBC to be planned in unison, something Squamish district staff said they are still working towards. Despite a motion passed to proceed that way, Squamish council passed another motion earlier this summer calling for Red Point Squamish apartment suites development to be considered independent of that process. At the time, Gardner said that was done at the Kingswood Properties developers’ behest. Wednesday’s press release shows a continued aversion to the planning process in Squamish real estate, especially that of the Upper Mamquam Blind Channel site. “We can’t wait,” said John Moonen, a spokesperson for Kingswood Squamish Proeprties. “We have been involved in this process for four years,” said Segal in the release. “some members of council may want to undertake additional planning int eh neighbourhood, but we have no idea how they will define the process and we are concerned it will take months, if not years, to complete. We simply cannot wait that long so we are proceeding outright with this now.” According to Moonen, Kingswood Properties Squamish Red Point proposal builders has submitted renderings to the Squamish istrict and will go forward from there. “A majority of council and the public have made it clear that a plan for the UMBC must be undertaken prior to any development,” wrote councilor Corinne Lonsdale in an email to Pique Magazine. “I believe Staff have received the message and will move forward. It is my opnion that the process should be a priority. Many who spoke commented on the potential opportunities for tourism commercial in that area.”

Squamish Nation declined comment as well regarding the proposed Red Point living apartment homes in Squamish by Kingswood Properties developers. Chief Gibby Jacob filed a strongly worded letter with the public hearing; he supported the Squamish real estate development, praised an existing relationship wthe nation has with Kingswood Properties and said the nation would be “discouraged” if the rezoning were to be deined. “I’m always concerned when there’s an issue where Squamish Nation has taken an opposition that’ snot the same as the district,” said Gardner, “and Dale Harry and I have spoken about that. And I think, in the long term, I’m confident that there’s not going to be a negative impact on our relationship,” Damage to the relationship with kingswood Properties is still uncertain. “I am sorry it took this long for Red Point to get the message from the community,” said Lonsdale. “I know several council members and members of the public have been trying to convey our concerns for months an din my case since my first meeting with) project manager Mr. Bijok m;ore than two years ago. Despite the press release, Gardner waxed hopeful on bringing Kingswood Properties Squamish back into the planning fold.

Squamish Approves 81 Room Ramada Inn – Project Further Goal of Increasing Tourism
By P Carlucci for the Pique. A real estate development permit was unanimously approved this week for a Ramada Hotel Squamish off Highway 99 at the southern end of Squamish, even though it came with a slew of variances and the special meeting of council was sparsely attended. The Ramada Hotel Squamish, which will be comprised of 81 rooms, is being developed by Platinum West Developments Inc. The company requested and received five variances, including an increase in height from 10.68 metres to 16.3 metres, a reduction in north side setback from 7.62 metres to 1.82 metres, a reduction in required parking stalls from 81 to 76, the elimination of five loading stalls in favour of centralized bay and a deviation from the Squamish district’s signage bylaw. Squamish Real Estate Planning Director Chalmers said the Squamish Ramada Hotel project fits with the district’s agenda to swell tourism. According to bishop, much of the site is low-lying which mitigates the impact of the height variance given to the Ramada Squamish hotel residences. Four councillors is the bare minimum required to hold a meeting. The Squamish Estuary Management committee, and, through it, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, have approved the real estate project at the Squamish Ramada Inn Hotel, according to Bishop, who said a three or four page letter was setng to the developer at an earlier stage of planning. The four storey Ramada Squamish hotel inn building will have basalt and timber features, as well as an interior climbing wall visible from the highway. The Ramada Hotel Squamish jonis 11 others in the town of Squamish, all of which comprise 401 rooms. The Ramada Squamish Hotel will be the second largest, behind Executive Suites Garibaldi Springs Resort, which has 111 rooms.