April 2025
The Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan) was presented to Council for consideration of second reading at the Regular Meeting of the Council on Tuesday, April 1. Following a presentation by Staff and a discussion period, Council gave the Plan second reading.
Next Steps:
- The date for a Public Hearing has been set for May 27, 2025 at Brennan Park Recreation Centre. Further details will be available in May.
- Official notice of the Public Hearing will be advertised twice in The Squamish Chief prior to May 27.
- Following the Public Hearing, Council has the option of sending the Plan back to Staff for revisions, defeat the Plan, or give the Plan a third reading and adoption. These options can be done either immediately following the Public Hearing or at a later date.
Details of the Public Hearing is expected to be available mid-May.
March 2025
A Mashiter Creek Overland Flow Hazard Assessment has now been completed as part of the Garibaldi Neighbourhood Planning Process following direction from Council at the December 17, 2024 Regular meeting.
The purpose of the assessment was to develop an understanding of the flood extent including flood depths and velocities for the overland flow hazard from Mashiter Creek in the Garibaldi Estates neighbourhood and develop flood mitigation policies for the Garibaldi Estates neighbourhood.
The Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan is anticipated to be presented to Council for second reading on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. A complete copy of the assessment and recommendations is included in the agenda package for public review. Second reading will also provide an opportunity for Council to have their questions answered and decide whether to move forward with a Public Hearing on the plan or send it back to staff for consideration of further revisions.
View the Report to Council including the Mashiter Creek Overland Flow Hazard Assessment here.
Next Steps: Further updates will be provided following the consideration of second reading of the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan on Tuesday, April 1.
December 2024
The Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan) was presented to Council for consideration of first and second readings at the Regular Meeting of the Council on Tuesday, December 17.
Following a discussion period, Council gave first reading of the Plan. Staff will bring the Plan back to Council for second reading early 2025.
Next Steps:
- A Mashiter Creek Hazard Assessment to be competed and the Plan updated to reflect the results before the Plan is brought to Council for second reading.
- A date for second reading will be determined in the new year. Second reading will provide an opportunity for Council to have their questions answered and decide whether or not to move the Plan to a Public Hearing or have it sent back to staff for consideration of further revisions.
September, 2024
Stage Four of the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Planning Process
The draft of the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan along with a What We Heard Report (WWHR) was presented to Council during the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, September 24.
Read the Report to Council (WWHR begins on page 13, draft plan begins on page 50).
Watch the presentation at the Committee of the Whole
Next Steps:
- A What We Heard Report for Stage 4 and the draft Neighbourhood Plan will be presented to Council for feedback on September 24.
- The draft Neighbourhood Plan will be reviewed and revised based on feedback and comments from Council (in response to public input from Stage 4 engagement activities and recommendations from staff).
- A final copy of the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan will be presented to Council to initiate readings and adoption (date to be announced).
July 2024
Stage Four of the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Planning Process is underway. A draft of the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan has been developed following a series of robust engagement events with residents, stakeholders, and Squamish Nation. The draft plan was presented to residents and businesses during one of four planned informational/workshop events in June. Residents and interested parties were invited to share their ideas and suggestions on the neighbourhood’s draft policies that will help guide and mitigate the challenges associated with welcoming new people and homes into older neighbourhoods within Squamish. Each session offered:
- Information about the draft plan updates with an opportunity to ask questions.
- A focus on specific neighbourhood areas to support a more in-depth discussion.
- An opportunity to workshop your ideas on the plan’s policies with your neighbours.
- An opportunity to discuss potential actions to mitigate both short-term and long-term challenges.
If you were unable to make one of the four workshops and would like to provide your feedback, please join the open discussion forum (below), or email planning@squamish.ca before July 31.
Phase 4 resources:
- View a copy of the DRAFT plan*
- View the Draft Executive Summary
- Next Steps: Garibaldi Neighbourhood Planning Process
- How Local Government makes decisions
- Event Information Boards Event Comment Forms
- The first Commercial Core policy (page 35) was corrected to reference lots on the west side of Highway 99, rather than the east side.
- Zoning Bylaw Implementation section (page 93) was amended to include the provision of zoning for townhouse uses in the Ground Oriented Residential Area, in alignment with policies in the Ground Oriented Residential section (page 39).
Building a Neighbourhood Plan:
Neighbourhood Considerations by DOS Communications
January, 2024
Update Regarding Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Planning Process
We appreciate your patience while we have been working to develop a draft plan for the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood, based on the results of Stage 3 of the planning process in the spring of this year. We understand that planning for your neighbourhood has been a challenging exercise as we together, as a community, contemplate the complexity of affordability, livability, and community growth, in addition to preserving neighborhood character as best as possible. As we continue the neighbourhood planning process, we are committed to transparency.
Drafting the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan is an intricate process and is requiring extra time. There are many considerations to incorporate including access, servicing, and design requirements for the various changes in land uses.
In late 2023, the Provincial Government passed legislation to support the Homes for People program: Bill 44 (Small Scale, Multi-Unit Housing), Bill 46 (Development Charges), and Bill 47 (Transit Oriented Development). Policy guidance and supporting technical documents were released by the Province in December 2023. This legislation outlines significant changes to municipal authority intended to support the expansion of housing supply within the province to ensure that a range of "missing middle" housing options are accessible in all communities, including in areas currently zoned for traditional single-family housing. The inevitable requirements and timelines established by the province means that these new requirements will need to be integrated within the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan.
- Read the letter from the Province regarding Bill 44, 46, and 47.
- Learn more about Bill 44, 46, and 47.
- Learn about missing middle housing in Squamish.
- Learn more about the BC Housing Action Plan.
Meanwhile, we are interested to know what your questions are about the provincial zoning changes in order to inform our communications planning around these BC-wide changes. This will help us shape District information to complement what we expect the province will provide.
What are your questions about the upcoming provincial zoning? Share these with us here.
April, 2023
The District of Squamish is developing a neighbourhood plan for the Garibaldi Estates. The goal for the neighbourhood plan is to develop a vision for the future of the Garibaldi Estates over the next 20 years. We want to hear from Squamish residents to create a plan that is a good fit for the neighbourhood, improves the livability of the area, and supports larger community goals outlined in the OCP.
Stage 3 Engagement Activities have concluded and results were presented to Council on May 9th, 2023.
Results of Stage 3 land use scenarios engagement can be found in the Land Use Scenarios Engagement Summary. The results of the land use scenarios engagement were presented to Council at the May 9, 2023 Committee of the Whole Meeting at which time Council directed staff to begin working on a draft neighborhood plan in Stage 4 of the planning process based on the following direction:
- Include proposed guiding principles with the addition of principles focused on neighbourhood design, and infrastructure.
- For the Commercial sub area incorporate Scenario B
- For the Diamond Head North sub area incorporate Scenario C
- For the Estates North sub area incorporate Scenario C
- For the Diamond Head South sub area incorporate Scenario C
- For the Estates Centre use sub area incorporate Scenario C
- For the Estates East use sub area incorporate a hybrid of Scenarios A & B
- Incorporate Emerging Ideas as presented to the community under the following topics:
- Transportation
- Parks & Public Outdoor Space
- Childcare
- Mamquam Community Garden
- Accessory Commercial Units
- Tree Canopy Protection
- Mid-Block Connections
- Explore opportunities to ensure a diverse range of housing forms that deliver on critical housing priorities are financially viable, as recommended by the Squamish Community Housing Society.
The project in now in Stage 4. Staff are working on a draft neighbourhood plan based on the direction received from Council.
