New Howe Sound town will be twice the size of Lions Bay THERE'S A> new (town in town — or at Jeast, there will be soon. Charlotte Parsons Contributing Writer Sennen It is called Furry Creek. tt will be about twice the size of Lions Bay, and will be home to about 2,000 residents. No one fives on the site yet. but more than half of the 920 lots up for sale have already been sold. Skeptics may argue that new lowns are not so easily created: you don't just add water and stir. True. You also need to threw in a couple of mountains and a dash of golf, Built around a new golf course located 10 miles (16 km) south of Squamish, the future community of Furry Creek has raised both hopes and coacerns among Howe Sound residents. Advocates eagerly anticipate an influy of jebs te the region, But some Howe Sounders worry thet a wealthy new town could disrupt the region, both socially and en- siroamentally. Howe Sound Steering Commit- tee chairperson Rozlynne Mitchell said she is concerned about ‘ad hoc” approaches to development that might ignore the overall goals and concerns of Howe Sound. “We want a development like Furry Creek to fit into a larger, regional strategy,’ she said. ‘Part of that vision of how ft fits into the scheme involves questions of the development’s impact on the region's infrastructure — like its highways and waterways."* She said that developers are reneging on # promise to protect the already environmentally burdened sound by employing ter- liary (third stage) sewage treat- ment. Tanac Land Development Corp. Vice President Ben See Furry Creek page 3 Furry Creek puts more pressure on Victoria to upgrade Squamish Hwy THE shoe ROAD from Horse- Bay to Furry Creek may be Jong, but Robert Fine hopes it may soon become wide — four lanes wide. Charlotte Parsons Contributing Writer The Squamish economic devel- opment officer believes the ¢re- ation of a new town at Furry Creek will boost pressure on the provincial government to allocate the approximately $1 billion needed to turn the two-lane high- way connecting Horseshoe Bay and Squamish into a four-lane highway. As the regional population ex- pands into the Howe Sound area, more. people will depend on the Squamish Highway. “ t's going to be a while, but the growth of these communities puts more and more pressure on the government,"' he said. With up to 24,000 cars a day already traveliing the route, Fine says the upgrade is necessary. Waite some Howe Sound resi- dents worry that a four-lane highway would taint the region’s natural beauty, Fine says that “many people think this highway is a great growth management tool." He said that local authorities have long considered the expan- sion a priority. But the introduc- tion of a new community of 2,000 at Furry Creek may increase the chances of an expanded highway actually coming to pass. Bur the Squamish Highway Presents some serious geotechnical challenges, There are 26 creeks that discharge into Howe Sound be- tween Brittania Beach and Horseshoe Bay alone. Combined with an high rainfall, creeks, road are often a disaster. Since 1906, 49 people have died in land slides and Moods along the stretch of highway. The switch to four Janes would require the expropriation of some residential property at Eagle Har- bour, Brunswick Beach, Glen Eden and Britannia Beach. Com- mercial properties at Britannia Beach and Shannon Falls might also need to be relocated. Advocates argue that the im- proved highway would be a bargain at any price; a four-lane highway would reduce traffic ac- cidents, save time, and stimulate economic development. unusually water and recipe for DOOR ON THE | [ cotor se SCHEMES Combinations to consider when doing renowatiengs. GMC SONOMA Passenger comfort styling showeased in SiG pickus, NEWS photo Cindy Goodman Christmas flares WEST VANCOUVER Police Const. Pau! Skelton helps to set up a West Van- couver road check as part of the annual Counter Attack campaign to stop drinking drivers. Police wiil be setting up similar road blocks throughout the holiday season. NORTH SHORE SINCE 1969