District of Squamish Employment Space Policy Design and Innovation

Employment land and space is a strategic area of policy development for the District of Squamish, and a key focus of our Economic Action Plan. As population grows in the District, we’re conducting policy review and analysis to understand the employment space needs of our local sectors, the current capacity for different types of space, and future demand. With these insights, we’re developing data-driven economic models, tools and resources to help ensure we have an appropriate supply of land and space to support future economic growth. Ensuring an increased supply of land and marine-based employment space is a strategic priority for the District of Squamish. Adequate space means that local businesses can expand and new firms can locate in Squamish, translating into more jobs for our resident workforce.

Through zoning and policy, the District can significantly influence the development of employment space in new developments. The District seeks to optimize those new employment spaces to maximize local employment, wage, and employee density, economic diversity, neighbourhood and community vibrancy, and quality of life for residents, including the local workforce. This project seeks to take a variety of existing District of Squamish research and policy assets that have been produced to date, apply a lens of Community Planning best practices relevant to the District of Squamish, and produce an action-oriented report, including a set of guiding principles that will help District staff apply the insights toward optimal future employment space planning going forward.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jeffrey Wilson

Student:

Partner:

District of Squamish Economic Development Team

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public administration

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: