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Good fences make good neighbours, selling Whistler, trumpeting tourism, and lauding Larco

Unacceptable behaviour In recent months there has been a consistent effort on the part of the RMOW to portray the residents of the SLRD as freeloading parasites sucking the blood from Whistler taxpayers.

Unacceptable behaviour

In recent months there has been a consistent effort on the part of the RMOW to portray the residents of the SLRD as freeloading parasites sucking the blood from Whistler taxpayers. While it was somewhat humorous initially, I must now set the record straight as things have clearly gone sideways, as evidenced by RMOW’s decision to walk away from the SLRD planning process last week.

First, we are your parents; we are what you came from. All of the initial services in the original community of Alta Lake were provided by the SLRD. How is it then that we are now being vilified as Johnny come lately to the development gravy train, when we were here first? My apologies to aboriginal communities.

Second, we are your closest neighbours and as such share with you our daily experiences. A good number of us contribute significantly to the ongoing success of Whistler and have for many years. We are your friends and relatives and yes... we are guilty of shopping in your stores, eating and drinking in your restaurants and skiing on your mountains. Typically in the rest of Canada, Whistler would be known as a regional service area and the commerce that would bring would be considered to be of benefit to all sectors.

The communities of Black Tusk and Pinecrest are excellent examples of independent, vibrant satellite neighbourhoods that are essentially self sufficient in terms of most services. We have our own community hall, beaches and tennis courts. We successfully operate our own satellite TV rebroadcasting system and our own wireless Internet service. We have our own dedicated volunteer fire department, roads and utility contractors and operate our own sewage treatment plants. Contrary to recent concerns expressed by the RMOW that independent communities could not be relied upon to keep their sewage plants operational, both Black Tusk and Pinecrest have each completed modernization of their independent sewage treatment plants in recent months, as is their legal obligation under provincial statutes.

According to our B.C. Tax Assessments we pay our share of school taxes, hospital taxes in both Lillooet and Squamish and contribute our share to the Whistler Public Library. With the exception of landfill, which could also be rectified with similar assessments, where does the charge of freeloading come in?

So quit the rhetoric about down valley sprawl and rogue developments on the fringe of Whistler. Recognize that SLRD landowners and taxpayers also have rights through fair rezoning process. Remember that not all SLRD residents were in favour of the developments at Whistler at the outset. Arguably these developments have altered SLRD residents’ lives significantly more than what the current 64 lot subdivision north of Whistler will do to residents of the RMOW.

The abrupt deterioration of a working relationship since Hugh O’Reilly left a year ago is symptomatic of Whistler’s descent into the political realm of governance by principle. The often quoted Regional Growth Strategy is not what it claims to be and the principles of Smart Growth are subject to interpretation. The political reality is that the potential for environmentally appropriate development does, in fact, exist in a number of locations close to Whistler’s political boundaries, even if the RMOW is successful in expanding those boundaries.

As your neighbours we are happy for your success and respect your decision to make prudent land use decisions within your political boundaries. We have always looked to the RMOW to participate as one of a number of community members at the SLRD in examining issues that may also be of concern to you and the other members. The challenge is to identify those issues and create strategies to manage acceptable growth over the next decades. Unfortunately, the decisions will not always be to your liking but that is just part of living in a family. Abandoning the process and revoking your financial commitments because you did not get your way is simply not acceptable. The same can be said about slagging your neighbours and friends.

Brad Sills

Black Tusk Village

 

You’re invited

The letter to the editor from Mr. Alvarez (For These Things We Give Thanks, Pique Sept. 7) is a reminder that at least one local business may not have noticed the recent ads requesting Expressions of Interest regarding the RMOW's Trademark Licensing program.

On Aug. 17 and again on Aug. 24, the RMOW ran ads in both local publications "requesting expressions of interest from producers of unique and distinct products who are interested in being reviewed as potential licensees in the RMOW's Trademark Licensing program".

The ads did not run in any publication outside Whistler. The ads were targeted at local businesses who wish to be considered as Licensees.

The REOI is also available on www.whistler.ca/Business/Tenders_and_RFPs/ and must be submitted to info@whistler.ca by noon on Friday, Sept. 15, 2006.

John A. Rae

RMOW

Manager Strategic Alliances & Marketing

 

Wedge issue around for years

I am compelled to write regarding the recent SLRD decision involving the Wedge property north of Whistler. I have watched this ticking time bomb unfold over time and it is unfortunate that it seems to have caused such a serious division in the corridor. However, I feel that the truth must be told.

This 565-acre parcel was sold to the current owner in 2000. At that time it was zoned for 20-acre parcels and 28 lots were allowed. This zoning had been in place for years. In 2003 The SLRD adopted a new zoning bylaw # 765 which allowed that up to four homes could be built on each 20-acre parcel. This new zoning now allowed 112 homes on this property. The new zoning was a blanket change that affected a great number of properties throughout the regional district.

During all of 2002 and 2003 the SLRD reviewed and prepared Zoning Bylaw 765, which effectively up zoned this property from 28 lots to 112 lots. Throughout that period the Resort Municipality of Whistler had full representation at the SLRD board table and plenty of opportunity to comment, but failed to say a word. Recently the balance of these properties have been rezoned to minimum 100 acre parcels, but this parcel, due to the fact that it was actively under development work, stayed the same.

The RMOW has, since its inception, tried to limit development on its borders. Pinecrest and Black Tusk were opposed many years ago as was the recent approval of a campsite at Brandywine. Unfortunately Whistler has done a poor job of effectively communicating its reasons for wanting to limit development in these areas. People outside Whistler see Whistler complaining about development in other jurisdictions while development continues in Whistler.

I think it is a little late in the day for Whistler to be crying foul about the Wedge development as it has been staring them in the face for years. Whistler’s cap on development has taken the pressure off Whistler and forced it onto the regional district who, unlike Whistler, has limited resources. The fact is, the zoning was always there in some form and Whistler chose to ignore it, until now.

Drew Meredith

Pemberton

 

Where does the money go?

I would like to echo the sentiments of Mr. Alvarez regarding the RMOW's sustainability binge. One of a long list of binges. To put it bluntly, the RMOW has for a long time spent, and still continues to spend, tax dollars like they are going out of style.

I don't even want to know how much has been spent on studies, consultants and various sustainability information-gathering groups. It is in the millions, but the exact number really does not matter right now because it's gone.

Perhaps the time has now come to spend some of your hard earned tax dollars on what is truly a much-needed study, one on the inner workings of the RMOW. What works, what does not work, who works, who does not work, where the money drains are and how to turn them off. The mayor and council owe the taxpayers at least that much after throwing yet another million taxpayer dollars away on the latest fiasco deciding not to build the sledge hockey arena.

The RMOW sometimes has a siege mentality when anyone outside the walls questions how and why they do things as they do. Well, those outside the walls pay the bills and they deserve to know the hows and whys of where their hard earned tax dollars go.

Let’s have an independent audit now, because there is a lot of cash flowing through the RMOW and the view from the outside is that there doesn't seem to be very many controls on how it is spent or who spends it.

The auditor general is pretty good at that, perhaps someone should give that office a call.

Don Goodall

Whistler

 

 

The facts about Tourism Whistler’s role

As a not-for-profit, member-based organization, Tourism Whistler encourages and embraces diversity of opinion, as we believe this fosters new ideas and creativity; generates healthy debate; and ultimately makes us stronger as both a community and as a tourism destination.

We would therefore like to see the Pique continue to stimulate community dialogue through its robust Letter to the Editor section, and urge you to ensure published letters are based on factually-accurate information.

A recent published letter was disturbing, not because of its opinion of various community-based and government organizations, but because of its misinformation o n the roles of those organizations , and other factual inaccuracies throughout the letter.

As a result, we wanted to take this opportunity to outline Tourism Whistler’s role in the community:

• not-for-profit , member-based organization , representing commercial (accommodation, activity, retail, restaurant and other service businesses) and residential sectors ;

• consumer-driven marketing and sales organization, promoting Whistler as the premier year-round mountain destination of choice ;

• responsible for driving room nights, and thereby economic activity to the whole Resort ;

• responsible for operating the Telus Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, Whistler Activity Centre, Whistler.com and 1-800 Whistler ;

• established under the provincial government’s Resort Municipality of Whistler Act, but operates autonomously from all levels of government ;

• overseen by an independent member-elected Board of Directors, with representation from a cross-section of community sectors .

We appreciate the Pique setting the record straight, and look forward to continued participation in meaningful community dialogue.

Barrett Fisher

President

Tourism Whistler

 

 

Pemberton Library book sale a success

Three cheers for the book lovers of Pemberton & District!

Last Friday’s (Sept. 8 th ) book sale proved it: people in Pemberton and the surrounding area love our library. They came and browsed, found books for their children, teens or their friends. And they donated generously.

The Bank of Nova Scotia let us use their store front space and staff helped our many volunteer Friends of the Library to make this another success story: proceeds came to roughly $2,000 — the amount which will be matched by the Bank of Nova Scotia.

A heartfelt thanks to our community, to our volunteer Friends of the Library, our library staff and members of the board. You donated more than 100 boxes of books. Our volunteers sorted, packed and transported them, then set up tables and tents, took turns to help our patrons, finally packed and cleaned up. Hugh Naylor and George Brooks deserve special mention for an amazingly dedicated effort. All others please understand that we cannot list you individually — our appreciation is deep, our thanks most sincere. See you next year!

Renate Williams

Chair of Fundraising Committee and Trustee

Pemberton & District Public Library

 

About that space

Re: London Drugs anxious to open store in Whistler (Pique Sept. 7)

This article contained some misleading information with respect to the current and proposed zoning of the lower level of the Whistler Village Centre. The current zoning, labelled “TA8”, allows a number of different uses in the lower level of the Whistler Village Centre, including movie theatres, restaurants, entertainment (nightclubs), offices, storage and indoor recreation. Therefore, calling the current zoning “indoor recreation” is incorrect, as it is just one of half a dozen permitted uses for this area. Some of the permitted uses contain certain conditions for them to be allowed to operate in the lower level of the Whistler Village Centre. For example, an entertainment (nightclub) use is only permitted if there is a full service restaurant in operation. Also, for this, as well as for office and storage uses to be allowed, at least 3,000 square feet must be used or available for indoor recreation and half the total area of the space must be being used for indoor recreation and/or a movie theatre. Currently, these conditions are being met by the Village 8 Cinemas and the video arcade.

The current zoning has been in place since 2002, when the council of that day, which included the current mayor, voted unanimously in favour of the amendment, likely recognizing the changing needs of the community and the limited appetite by the general public for indoor recreation, as confirmed by the number of indoor recreation businesses in Whistler that failed in the past.

Contrary to the article and much popular opinion, the owner of the premises has not applied to rezone the property, but to merely amend the text of the current zoning by adding retail as an additional permitted use to those already allowed. Should council approve the application, the movie theatres and indoor recreation currently in place will stay and retail will hopefully fill the remainder of the space that has been vacant for over five years since the demise of the last attempt at indoor recreation.

The owner of the premises, along with London Drugs and the majority of Whistler residents (as recently surveyed), hope that council supports the application to add retail as a permitted use so that the needs of the residents and visitors can be better served in Whistler, thus curtailing the loss of retail sales caused by many residents and visitors shopping outside of the municipality for their goods and services. Without providing a broader product, service and price range in Whistler, the leakage of retail sales from Whistler will likely only increase once Wal-Mart and Home Depot open nearby in Squamish.

Jonathan Lazar

Director, Commercial Property

Maple Leaf Property Management