Once the snow clears, shovels may be in the ground on a 51-unit townhome development in the Northyards.

Council passed third reading of a rezoning for the Dayhu Group of Companies housing project slated for Government Road at its special business meeting Tuesday night.

Second reading of the proposal passed in December. 

The development will consist of 28 stacked one- and two-bedroom townhomes above an underground parkade at the front of the property along Government Road. The rear portion of property will include 23 conventional townhouses in a horseshoe shape around a rectangular green space, according to District of Squamish staff. 

Six market rentals are also included in the plan, though dependent on if requested variances are passed at the development permit stage.

A total of 74 parking stalls are planned for residents and 13 visitor parking stalls.

A 90-minute public hearing took place prior to the vote Tuesday evening. 

About six residents spoke expressing many concerns including traffic, parking, privacy and the proposal’s density. 

“We get the fact there’s going to be increased development, but at what point are we increasing the density to the point we are in fact almost fracturing the nieghbourhood?” said Michael Lyons, who lives in the Northyards.  

“We are changing the entire character of the neighbourhood.”

 Many speakers also noted a lack of playgrounds in the area. 

Several letters with similar concerns were also submitted to council prior to the meeting.

A traffic study was completed after the development came before council for first reading. 

According to the study, the proposed Government Road development would add 23 vehicle trips during the morning peak hour, 8 to 9 a.m., and 27 vehicle trips during the evening rush hour of 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. 

Only seven pedestrians used the roadway in front of the proposed development during the five-hour study period, the report states. 

Staff and councillors noted that if the proposed $1.7-million extension of Pioneer Street, currently in the draft 2017 budget, goes ahead traffic will be increasingly diverted away from Government Road, thus reducing traffic for this neighbourhood. 

Form and character aspects of the proposal will be addressed at the development permit stage at a future council meeting.