I was happy to read about the forward movement for the Lil’wat Nation’s plans to build a gas station and multi-use buildings at the intersection of Alpha Lake Road and Lynham Road in Function. I understand these things takes time and liaising with the Ministry of Transportation is not for the fainthearted. That being said, it can’t come soon enough.
As Braden Dupuis illustrated in his editorial on Feb. 10, the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s goal of reducing highway traffic, and in turn reducing green house gases, is important to them, and to us all. I agree that it just makes sense that, “Having fewer Cheakamus (and Function) residents travelling north for basic amenities is a great place to start.”
I would like to take it further for the Cheakamus Crossing/Function neighbourhoods. Rainbow has led the way with a gas station, daycare, liquor store, yoga studio, coffee shop and grocery store. Decentralization, making community hubs, is smart planning. We are fortunate in the southern communities to already have a daycare, a small corner store, coffee shops and much, much more, but with the upcoming addition of hundreds of new homes for locals (yah), now is the time to expand our offerings and get us out of our cars and keep traffic off the highway and consolidate neighbourhoods.
The community would benefit from a full- service grocery store, a full-service eatery, a liquor store and ultimately a branch of the public library, as well as a small community centre, and medical and health offices. This community hub could begin by offering an Alpine Café/grocery store-type of development with an eatery offering live music, an avenue for visual artists to display their works and most of all, a place for neighbours (families included), to congregate.
The idea of being able to walk to these amenities makes me excited! Just think, that in our real estate listings, the walk score could go from zero to seven or eight. Listings aside, this is about health and well-being. It is good for people to be out walking, to see their neighbours, to make connections while supporting and strengthening local entrepreneurs as they work at providing services for our community.
All without getting in their cars.
