Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation

The SODC has owned the Oceanfront lands since 2004 and is in possession of numerous past studies and reports pertaining to its development potential. In developing a business plan for the Squamish Oceanfront, the first task was to fully understand what was already known and determine how it could best be applied. This included a wealth of information resulting from community consultations and led to the development of core experiential elements that would underpin all future planning: for example marine uses, KBI employment, Education, Arts & Culture, etc. Future work focused on how each of these elements could succeed on the Squamish Oceanfront and how they would interrelate. Concurrently, we learned more about what challenges and opportunities were inherent in the land itself. Thus armed, we gathered an impressive collection of architects, planners and community builders to envision an optimal design and future for the Oceanfront. This process affirmed the importance of creating and maintaining public access to the water and showcasing the natural grandeur of the area. It also cemented the Community First theme by the commitment to designing and delivering a complete “live-work-learn-play” community. 

This approach resulted in over 70% of developable land being allocated to community amenities and employment generators. Next then came the critical steps of determining how to balance these uses in a risk managed financial model and how to phase the project for maximum effect. When all of this was completed, the final Squamish Oceanfront Business Plan was then documented, finalized and presented in October 2009.