Whistler’s only dry golf course is set to get wet.
Nicklaus North Golf Course, the only golf course in Whistler that does not sell booze, has been granted a liquor license. The resolution was passed at Monday’s council meeting.
Alcoholic drinks will now be available at the halfway hut and from beverage carts around the course.
Council had passed the resolution earlier this summer but the provincial Liquor Control and Licensing Branch stalled the decision to allow alcohol sales on the course. The province decided residents had not been canvassed enough and would not accept council’s decision at that time.
Since then public notice advertisements have appeared in the paper and an information sign was posted outside the clubhouse. No public comments were received.
The paperwork has been sent to the province but there is no date as yet when the licensing will be in place.
Non conforming space under scrutiny
A new task force has been set up to examine the controversial issue of non conforming space in Whistler’s homes.
The local chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association has asked council to take a leadership role in the task force and Councillor Marianne Wade will assume the role as chair. Councillor Nick Davies will also be a part of the group, along with local realtors, developers and members of the fire department.
Under current bylaws there is a maximum size for buildings in Whistler. Developers can sometimes get around this requirement with some creative building techniques.
For example they can build up the floor of a basement room to meet the 1.4 metre height of a crawl space. Then after the building inspection they can remove the false floor.
Or they can covenant space in a house promising it will never be used, only to develop it after the inspection.
"We believe this situation exists because many regulations within the zoning bylaws do not reflect the current needs of the Whistler building and home owners," said Rod Nadeau, president of the CHBA’s Whistler chapter, in a letter to council.
"Many of these regulations have been around for a long time and the reasons they were put into effect are no longer relevant in the World Class Resort that is Whistler today."
The task force will try to write a draft report by the end of the year, which may be presented to council in January.
