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Ravens Crest rolled into new partnership

Proposed development would take place over many years
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Ravens Crest stands on its own no more.

It's now one of three partners in Sunstone Ridge, a consortium that seeks to develop a major tract of land about three kilometres east of the Village of Pemberton. Located below the hillside area, the proposed development encompasses land that in 2008 served as the location of the Pemberton Festival and stretches over approximately 400 hectares.

Partners in the consortium include Ravens Crest Developments, which holds 81 hectares in the south central portion. Ravens Crest previously sought to develop on a 287-acre property, constructing an upscale neighbourhood with townhomes, single-family lots and estate lots surrounded by wilderness.

Other partners include the Biro/Sabre property, which encompasses about 36 hectares; and the Lil'wat Nation, which controls 168 hectares through 2002's Shared Legacies Agreement with the Squamish Nation and the Province of British Columbia.

A neighbourhood concept plan (NCP) submitted to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District at its Dec. 14 meeting shows that developers plan a mix of uses including residential areas, neighbourhood retail, school and recreational opportunities.

The plan also promises the possibility of extending existing trails on the site, as well as planning future expansion of the trail network on the hillside and encouraging various modes of transportation including walking, cycling and public transit.

The plan is expected to develop over several years and will include open houses, stakeholder workshops and consultative meetings in the course of implementing it. Once built, it's expected to offer a range of housing types including market and non-market housing, according to the NCP.

As it stands, decisions on the neighbourhood are in the hands of the regional district, as the lands lie within Area C's boundaries. The area is, however, the subject of Pemberton's proposed boundary expansion. That expansion plan has been submitted to the provincial government but has since been caught up in delays related to the SLRD's Regional Growth Strategy.

The strategy, whose implementation has stalled due to a difference of opinion between the District of Squamish and the Resort Municipality of Whistler, may go to arbitration after a recent vote by Squamish council. An arbitrator would then decide what happens with the strategy, which aims to focus development into compact, sustainable communities.