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Council briefs: Businesses speak out in favour of creating another industrial park, again

Tuesday's second public hearing to convert a plot of land near Nicklaus North Golf Club into an industrial park was similar to the first public hearing held last year.

Tuesday's second public hearing to convert a plot of land near Nicklaus North Golf Club into an industrial park was similar to the first public hearing held last year.

Seventeen people walked up to the podium at MY Millennium Place and spoke in favour of rezoning the Mons property to allow industrial uses like a fueling station. Like last year's hearing, most of those speakers own businesses that hope to eventually be able to relocate to that land, like snow removal companies and landscaping businesses.

The only voice of opposition during the evening came from lawyer Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, who sat on council during the previous public hearing.

In a lengthy speech, Wilhelm-Morden restated her long-held belief that Whistler's Official Community Plan (OCP) needs to be updated before any more industrial development is approved outside of Function Junction.

Ecologist David Williamson also elaborated on the land's habitat value.

The Mons application received first, second and third reading in 2008. Last month, however, council rescinded second and third reading, and then gave another second reading, in order to include a few minor additions into the application.

The property, owned by longtime local businessmen Steve Bayly and Nigel Woods, is also slated to become a temporary parking and maintenance area for VANOC during the Olympics.

 

Making Whistler more accessible

One in eight people live with a disability, and in North America alone, people with disabilities spend more than $13 billion every year on travel, said Sara Tippler, the municipality's coordinator to address accessibility issues.

That is one of the reasons why it is important that the municipality continues to make Whistler more accessible for people with disabilities.

On Tuesday, Tippler outlined her plans to council to form a Measuring Up Select Committee of Council.

The committee will attempt to improve Whistler's accessibility and inclusion. For example, the committee will work with the advisory design panel to make sure buildings are accessible for everyone.

Terms of reference for the committee are currently being drafted, and Tippler told council she will soon present them with a list of recommended committee members.

She added that Legacies Now has granted Whistler $20,000 to improve accessibility in the resort municipality.