After an emotional public hearing last month, Squamish council approved a major development on the Cheekeye Fan on Tuesday evening.
The project includes 1,215 units. Out of those, 537 would be single-family units and 678 would be multi-unit dwellings. There is also space for commercial use and a new school.
The Squamish Nation is a landowner and partner in the development, along with Squamish Cornerstone Developments.
鈥淭oday is a momentous day,鈥� said Squamish Nation councillor Chris Lewis (Syetaxtn), echoing other Nation elders who turned out to the council meeting.
鈥淲e鈥檙e taught by our elders鈥� that our sole responsibility of our community and our Nation is the safety and well-being of our children and our elders. I take that principle and apply it to this rezoning, and this project, because we are providing safety for our community by doing this,鈥� he said.
Lewis was referring to the promise by the developer to construct a $45 million debris flow barrier that would protect the area from a potentially deadly landslide.
Currently, everyone living in the Brackendale area and multiple Squamish Nation villages nearby are at risk because of unstable geological conditions on Mount Garibaldi.
