Squamish council postpones vote on controversial tower

Squamish District Council has delayed a vote on whether to approve the construction of a 20-storey high-rise that critics say will block theview of a local landmark and famous rock climbing site.

Councillors were scheduled to vote Tuesday night on the development, but they decided they needed more information, so they postponed the vote until Nov. 6.

The condominium is one of three towers planned for a larger development on an old mill site located between the downtown area and towering rock face of the Stawamus Chief.

Criticssay the towers will block views of the rock climbing site known locally as "the Chief," which dominates the landscape.

Pridham Developments is seeking conditional approval to build the housing development for 3,500 people on the old Interfor mill site, located about 50 kilometres north of Vancouver. The three towers would be the tallest buildings in town.

The mayor of Squamish, Ian Sutherland, said Monday that the developer has held more public meetings than the law requires and the project has many supporters in the community.