The Fraser Basin Council, in partnership with the UBC Sustainable Communities Program, the District of Squamish and the community, is undertaking a public consultation and design "charrette" process to assist with planning for the future of the Squamish downtown waterfront.
The Squamish Downtown Waterfront Initiative will be guided by sustainability and "smart growth" principles that promote integrated consideration of economic, environmental and social objectives in an open and inclusive process.
Following an initial public consultation phase to identify community interests and general goals for the waterfront area, a design "charrette" - a highly interactive and collaborative process - will create a Concept Plan that can be used to guide future development.
Squamish Downtown Waterfront Initiative - Concept Plan - 
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April 3rd, 2003 At a Fraser Basin Council (FBC) Strengthening Communities Dialogue Session, members of the community recommended that the FBC consider facilitating multi-interest consultation on the future of the Squamish downtown waterfront.
May 20th, 2003 District of Squamish Council endorsed recommendation by the Select Committee on Downtown and Waterfront Development that FBC facilitate consultation on downtown waterfront development.
August 27th, 2003 Participants at an educational workshop featuring Dr. David Gordon, an international expert on waterfront redevelopment, agreed that a waterfront plan is needed.
November 17th, 2003 District of Squamish Council approved staff recommendation that the District enter into an agreement with FBC to carry out a consultation and planning "charrette" with the UBC Sustainable Communities Program to develop a detailed design concept for the downtown waterfront by April, 2004.
Initial Public Consultation
November 27th, 2003
Open House 4 pm - 8 pm Sea-to-Sky Hotel
Public Workshops
December 9, 2003
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Sea-to-Sky Hotel
January 15, 2004
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Sea-to-Sky Hotel
Charrette Process
(locations and times to be confirmed)
February 4-5, 2004
February 11, 2004
Initial Public Consultation: Overview
Purpose
To provide opportunities for those interested in the future of the Squamish downtown waterfront to register their interest and suggest goals for the area.
Desired Outcomes
- Community members and other interested parties informed about the Squamish Downtown Waterfront Initiative and how they can contribute to it.
- Identification of the various interests in the downtown waterfront and what their goals are for the area.
How To Get Informed and Involved
- Attend Open House (Nov. 27th) and Public Workshops (Dec. 9th and Jan. 15th)
- Complete and submit the questionnaire to the Fraser Basin Council. To fill out questionnaire via the internet, visit www.fraserbasin.bc.ca and click on Take Action to access link. Questionnaires are also available at Squamish City Hall, the Brennen Park Recreation Centre, and the Squamish Public Library.
- Tell your friends and associates about this initiative.
- Check the Take Action link at www.fraserbasin.bc.ca for updates or call 604-488-5355 for further information.
Overview of the Charrette Process
What is a "Charrette"?
The charrette process brings together people who have a stake in the community in an atmosphere of trust to design it. A charrette is a collaborative design event in which a team of community members, decision-makers, cross-disciplinary specialists, and designers come together to define a shared vision or plan for an area. The charrette process allows the broad team to evaluate how areas such as the Squamish downtown waterfront can be designed in a way that allows for appropriate integration into the existing and future community.
Why hold a "Charrette"? The charrette process empowers people to have a stake/interests in a project to work together to define a plan and to support the results, thereby producing not the perfect, but the best possible solution to all of the issues on the table.
"A charrette is a time-limited design event in which a diverse group of people strive to produce a mutually agreeable answer to a complex design problem"
Examples of charrette processes:
East Clayton, Surrey
CitiesPlus, Greater Vancouver
Britannia Beach
The Squamish Downtown Waterfront Charrette
Purpose
To collectively produce a design for the downtown waterfront for Squamish that incorporates sustainability principles and best practices in terms of planning, building design, and infrastructure.
Desired Outcomes:
- A Design Brief. The Design Brief incorporates input from the public consultation phase along with existing policy statements and other regulatory information in order to create design targets and guidelines that provide the basis for design during the charrette.
- A Detailed Concept Plan for the Squamish Downtown Waterfront.
How can you get informed and stay involved?
The charrette process emphasizes meaningful involvement by diverse groups, including municipal officials and their staff; First Nations representatives; community organizations and residents; property and business owners; real estate and development industry professionals; environmental and social groups; designers; students; federal and provincial representatives; and anyone else who has an interest in the given area. These groups participate initially in a number of workshops, and their input is incorporated into the preparation of the Design Brief. A representative from each group is then nominated to participate in the four-day charrette itself, during which time there are three opportunities for the whole community to participate: the Charrette Kick-off; the 'Mid-Course Correction'; and the Final Presentation.
Stay Involved:
Check the Take Action link at
www.fraserbasin.bc.ca for updates,
or call (604) 488-5355
for further information.
Attend the following events:
Charrette Kick-Off
Mid-Course Correction
Final Presentation
Public Workshops
Introduction to the Project Facilitators
The Fraser Basin Council
The Fraser Basin Council (FBC) is a non-government, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability throughout the entire Fraser River Basin - an area larger than Great Britain that is home to 2.6 million people and one of the largest salmon-producing river systems in the world. Since it was established in 1997, the FBC has acted as a catalyst, impartial facilitator, conflict resolution agent and sustainability educator to address a wide range of issues both within and outside of the Fraser Basin, including flood hazard management, strengthening communities in transition, improving aboriginal / non-aboriginal relationships, and measuring and reporting on the environmental, economic and social health of the Basin. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District is one of eight local governments on the FBC's Board of Directors, alongside representatives of federal, provincial and First Nations governments, the private sector, and civil society.
Financial support for the Squamish Downtown Waterfront Initiative is being provided by BC Hydro, the BC Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services and the District of Squamish.
The UBC Sustainable Communities Program
The UBC Sustainable Communities Program seeks to be a leader in applying sustainability concepts to the development of land and community. Located within the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences on the University of British Columbia main campus, the Program relies on a multidisciplinary staff and faculty team to offer services that promote the economic, social and environmental sustainability of our communities. Through taking advantage of the extensive research being conducted at UBC, the Sustainable Communities Program focuses on implementing sustainability concepts in real-world situations. This involves developing collaborative partnerships with individuals and organizations both within the University and in the government, private and civil sectors. The Sustainable Communities Program specializes in facilitating collaborative stakeholder-driven design processes ("charrettes") for defining and achieving more sustainable forms of growth and development.
Guiding Principles
Sustainability principles will be used as draft input to guide the Squamish Downtown Waterfront Initiative. The Fraser Basin Council defines sustainability as living and managing activities in a way that integrates social, economic, environmental and institutional considerations to meet our needs and those of future generations.
Fraser Basin Council Sustainability Principles
The Fraser Basin Council's Charter for Sustainability is a good-faith agreement among residents and organizations in the Basin to work together in support of sustainability. The Charter includes the following principles:
Mutual Dependence - Land, water, air and all living organisms including humans are integral parts of the ecosystem. Biodiversity must be conserved.
Accountability - Each of us is responsible for the social, economic and environmental consequences of our decisions and accountable for our actions.
Equity - All communities and regions must have equal opportunities to provide for the social, economic and environmental, needs of residents.
Integration - Consideration of social, economic and environmental costs and benefits must be an integral part of all decision making.
Adaptive Approaches - Plans and activities must be adaptable and able to respond to external pressures and changing values.
Coordinated and Cooperative Efforts - Coordinated and cooperative efforts are needed among all government and non-government interests.
Open and Informed Decision Making - Open decision making depends on the best available information.
Exercising Caution - Caution must be exercised when shaping decisions to avoid making irreversible mistakes.
Managing Uncertainty - A lack of certainty should not prevent decisive actions for sustainability.
Recognition - There must be recognition of existing rights, agreements and obligations in all decision making.
Aboriginal Rights and Title - Aboriginal rights and title now being defined must be acknowledged and reconciled in a just and fair manner.
Transition Takes Time - Sustainability is a journey that requires constant feedback, learning and adjustment. In the short-term, the elements of sustainability may not always be in balance.
Smart Growth on the Ground Sustainability Principles
Each community is complete
Smart Growth on the Ground communities allow people to live, work, shop, and play in the same neighbourhood.
Options to the car are emphasized
Smart Growth on the Ground communities offer transportation choices like walking, cycling, and transit by emphasizing inter-connected streets and high density.
Work in harmony with natural systems
Smart Growth on the Ground communities respect, maintain, and restore the natural functioning of the landscape.
Buildings and infrastructure are greener, smarter, and cheaper
Smart Growth on the Ground communities optimize the social, economic, and ecological impact of development.
Housing meets the needs of the whole community
Smart Growth on the Ground communities have a variety of housing types in the same neighbourhood, even on the same street.
Good jobs are close to home
Smart Growth on the Ground communities foster sustainable economic growth.
The spirit of each community is honoured
Smart Growth on the Ground communities are animated, diverse, and have a strong local identity.
Everyone has a voice
Smart Growth on the Ground communities belong to those who live, work, and play there.