Longtime locals who have fond memories of the original Whistler, the area today known as Creekside, may have done a double-take when they saw the recently unveiled concept for the area.
The Lake Placid Road Preliminary Study, created in response to the B.C. government's Bill 44, which would unilaterally permit the construction of three- and four-family homes on single-family sites, will be completed April 23 across Whistler. Submitted to the committee. It represents a significant departure from what exists in the universe today.
High-rise apartment buildings, reimagined streetscapes and pedestrian streets, completely redesigned facades and front entrances, and improved access to Nita Lake – this isn't your grandpa's Creekside.
Breaking ground isn't imminent, but Bill 44 is, so it's worth thinking about how to make the most of that opportunity, said John Chapman, planning manager for the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW). he said over coffee at Creekside last week.
“It's moving very quickly. By the end of June, we will have a zoning development that broadly considers replenishment opportunities of up to four dwelling units across all single-family residential zones,” Chapman said. “And we wanted to put this out there now so people could see it… [and] Before moving forward with plans for a triple or fourplex, you might think about the opportunity to do more than that. ”
Bill 44 sets out minimum requirements that municipalities must meet, but also encourages them to go beyond these where possible. Given that Lake Placid Road between Creekside and Nita Lake Lodge has been identified in Whistler's Official Community Plan as an area to study for further densification, staff felt it was suitable for a small vision project. .
As Chapman explained, the research is focused on imagining how the space itself will be filled, rather than how it will actually look.
“[J]Think about quantity,” he said. “What does a three- or four-story building look like?” What does that have to do with the scale of this building and Creekside Village? That's really all we do there. ”
So if you cry when you see the reimagined Southside Diner building in a mock-up image and think of Whistler, don't worry. Actual urban design elements include “significant community contributions; [and] We need to do a lot more collaboration with Congress and other key stakeholders,” Chapman said.
“We have to understand what Whistler is and we have to make sure that everything we do reflects the history and tradition of Whistler. That's really important,” he said. added. “We also have to recognize that we need more housing for local people and workers and this is an opportunity to look at that and identify strategic locations that really matter.”
One of the most appealing aspects of the Creekside redesign study is its potential to reimagine the original entrance to Whistler, both from an aesthetic and safety perspective.
“Imagine if you were driving north and you approached Creekside. How would you imagine it to feel like you're actually arriving here? That's what this job is about. “I think that should be a really important part of that,” Chapman said.
“The view of the mountaintops from here is amazing. I think Creekside Village and Franz Trail have a lot of opportunity to make it even better.”
Another important element of the study is improving public access to Lake Nita, Chapman added.
“If we imagine Lake Placid Road as a corridor, we think the principle of the study is to improve the public realm, to make it a really attractive place for pedestrians to travel east and west. “We want to make sure that,” he said.
The opportunities presented by Bill 44, and the opportunities to cause unrest, are many, but the jury is still out on how effective or transformative it will be in Whistler. At least at first.
By presenting the Creekside concept now, the staff aims to ultimately paint a complete picture of Creekside and what lies beyond.
“Things take time. We have to approach them carefully,” Chapman said, noting that the RMOW planning team has a long to-do list and redeveloping Creekside is not a top priority.
“It’s an opportunity to interact with the community.”
As I think about the implications and transformative potential of Bill 44, I am reminded of one of my favorite interview quotes. “I'm scared that our lives could change,” says a Whistler homeowner concerned about nearby development.
Even though it's deep and profound, for some reason I still haven't said anything essential. It is a futile expression of stubborn rebellion against an unstoppable universal force. I really love it.
Change is not only a possibility, but a necessity, and given a long enough timeline, it can happen to everyone and everything.
You don't have to like it, but it's not good to be afraid of it.
The best we can really hope for is the opportunity to prepare.
