Jamie Grant, 4500 Northlands Boulevard
Mr. Grant asked what the vision of the development at 4500 Northlands Boulevard includes and if there is a plan to address the Whistler Racket Club (WRC).
Mayor J. Crompton advised racquet sports amenities could potentially be off-site, including recreation which is the number one amenity mentioned throughout public engagement.
Mr. Grant asked if the proposal includes an offsite racquet recreational site?
Mayor J. Crompton expects recreation will be a part of the development process and that an offsite racquet sport amenity could offer a more balanced product.
Mr. Grant asked why racquet sports are not contemplated earlier in the process?
Mayor J. Crompton advised Council is following the prescribed public engagement process.
Ben Thomas, 6296 Piccolo Drive
Mr. Thomas asked if the current development plan constitutes the total amenity to be delivered?
Mayor J. Crompton advised no.
Mr. Thomas asked if taking the WRC offsite increases the value of this amenity?
Mayor J. Crompton noted it is possible and this is the discussion taking place right now and the decision to be made as a community.
Mr. Thomas asked what is the RMOW doing to maximize the benefit to the community based on the developer's proposal.
Mayor J. Crompton advised Council is here to see the public engagement process is followed. The process is to listen, to maximize opportunity for Whistlerites and Council will do everything in their power to make sure community stays at the heart of the process.
Mr. Thomas asked when the final amenity package will be available?
Mayor J. Crompton advised this will take place in the future. The full package will come before Council for consideration and it is encouraging to see the public engaged very early in the process. Council must vote on the bylaws before the development can take place.
Robert Leblanc, 4565 Whistler Road
Mr. Leblanc asked why there has been no commitment to either preserve or relocate the WRC.
Mayor J. Crompton advised Council cannot make a commitment to the outcome of the proposal before a Public Hearing. Council has a legislated duty maintain an open mind through the process up to and including a Public Hearing.
Guy Darby, 1572 Khyber Lane
Mr. Darby asked why sports and recreation was not listed as a guiding principle for the 4500 Northlands Boulevard Development.
General Manager of Resort Experience J. Gresley-Jones advised recreation is one of the lenses used to evaluate and is included in the guiding principles.
Mayor J. Crompton advised this is part of the public process that will take into account all of the Whistler community's feelings.
Robin Brown, 2188 Kathleen Place
Mr. Brown asked if Council is willing to pass up the $40M community facility that was promised 33 years ago.
Mayor J. Crompton advised that will be decided by this public process which is just at the beginning stage and he is excited to see where this will go.
Jessica Brown, 2704 Cheakamus Way
Ms. Brown asked how it is that the amenities are decided by staff and third party experts rather than Council and how can residents be sure Council doesn’t just accept what is presented at face value.
Mayor J. Crompton advised tonight's Meeting contains a well researched staff report and each member of Council has read and studied it.
Suzanne Johnson, 6125 Eagle Drive
Ms. Johnson asked why the current existing facility should not continue to exist as it currently does at the same address.
General Manager of Resort Experience J. Gresley-Jones advised the developer is doing their best to use the land which is well positioned for a number of uses and the development can be mixed-use. Further, the site plan which the developer has put forward involved mixed use and residential, the footprint of the tennis club makes it challenging for these current uses which are very close to downtown.
Ms. Johnson noted it makes more sense to build around an already existing site.
Mayor J. Crompton responded that the WRC off-site could potentially maximize the community benefit, if that is what ends up being decided.
Shawn Clarke, 86244 Sunridge Drive
Mr. Clarke asked if the extra revenue collected by the Beedie Group will be split by Council and the RMOW.
Mayor J. Crompton advised the work is ongoing and is to be decided through the public process.
Tim Thing, 4673 Blackcomb Way
Mr. Thing asked why the staff report did not address the WRC.
Mayor J. Crompton advised the report does not get into granular detail however it includes consideration of recreation. Specific considerations will be determined in Phase 3, while we are in Phase 2 of the process right now. This is an opportunity for a first-look at some ideas, however there is much work to be done.
Mr. Thing asked when specifics will be available.
Mayor J. Crompton advised this will be in Phase 3.
Mr. Thing asked if guidance was given to the developer as to what to keep or remove at the site.
Mayor J. Crompton advised the staff report will make plain staff's first thoughts on the developer's proposal.
Cheryl Young, 9412 Deerhorn Place
Ms. Young asked if it's been contemplated that Council will receive many complaints towards the WRC leading into the rezoning.
Mayor J. Crompton advised they frequently receive letters. Staff will consider the benefits, opportunities and challenges and they will bring back a well thought out proposal.
Esther Gorman, 2225 Gondola Way
Ms. Gorman asked where are the guarantees that the WRC will be replaced as part of the rezoning.
Mayor J Crompton advised residents need to trust the elected Council to deliver a fair outcome.
Ms. Gorman asked if there are any tools in Council's toolbox to guarantee the WRC will be replaced.
Mayor J. Crompton advised the tool is the public process, to allow members of the public to give comments and submissions.
Brenda Falvey, 1275 Mount Fee Road
Ms. Falvey asked how members of the public can make their voice be heard.
Mayor J. Crompton advised to continue to participate in the public process and make your case. The Public Hearing is when everything is in front of Council and then you can make your views known.
Ms. Falvey asked when the Public Hearing could potentially take place?
Mayor J. Crompton advised approximately Winter 2022-23.
Ms. Falvey questioned why there is a lack of an architectural concept to include everything that residents have asked for.
General Manager of Resort Experience J. Gresley-Jones advised that this is an introductory concept and RMOW staff want feedback from residents on these concepts. The proposal concepts will continue to evolve and to meet the needs of the community.
Doug Wilson, 2037 Karen Crescent
Mr. Wilson asked if Mayor always answers the question during the Public Q&A.
Mayor J. Crompton advised as the Mayor and Chair of the Meeting, it is his responsibility to answer questions or to direct to members of staff.
Andrew Ellet, 7138 Nesters Road
Mr. Ellet asked if the developer's proposal was aided by input from staff.
General Manager of Resort Experience J. Gresley-Jones advised this is an iterative process and there was some input from RMOW staff. After tonight, staff will go to the Developer with input received from Council.
Mr. Ellet asked if Council and staff had directed the proposal to not include WRC amenities.
Mayor J. Crompton advised staff worked with the developer and this is a community process which is now seeking input from the community.
Suzanne Johnson, 6125 Eagle Drive
Ms. Johnson asked if the community wants a racquet club, could they potentially keep it.
Mayor J. Crompton advised anything is an option but it needs to make sense for the developer, community and local government.
Jamie Grant, 4500 Northlands Boulevard
Mr. Grant asked if Council is aware that the WRC has various activities and amenities that take place on top of pickleball and tennis.
Mayor J. Crompton advised yes.
Shawn Clarke, 86244 Sunridge Drive
Mr. Clarke asked if there are any ways to maintain the public process to keep the public, Council and the Developer at the table.
Mayor J. Crompton advised that is the intent of Council.
Elizabeth Boylan, no address given
Ms. Boylan asked if a world class tennis facility in Squamish will reflect negatively on RMOW Mayor and Council.
Mayor J. Crompton advised what is taking place in Squamish is great for the community there.
Harrison Mills, 2380 Gondola Way
Mr. Mills asked what will happen to the WRC?
Mayor J. Crompton advised there will be a number of opportunities to participate in the discussion about the future of the site: Online, Open House, Public Hearing. Input from the public will inform the ultimate decision made.
Brenda Falvey, 1275 Mount Fee Road
Ms. Falvey asked if this process is regarding noise complaints related to pickleball.
Mayor J. Crompton advised this is not related to noise complaints.
Robbie Buchanan, 6303 Lorimer Road
Mr. Buchanan asked if the WRC will stay on-site or will it be removed offsite?
Mayor J. Crompton advised this is one of the conversations currently taking place.
Mr. Buchanan asked for specifics to what will happen to the WRC on the site.
Mayor J. Crompton advised this is ultimately a decision that will come from the public process.
Holly Young, 9055 Armchair Place
Ms. Young asked what exactly is taking place at 4500 Northlands Boulevard.
Mayor J. Crompton advised in the future the RMOW will have a rezoning of the 4500 Northlands Boulevard site.
Ms. Young asked why childcare is being contemplated when it's already being provided at the WRC.
Mayor J. Crompton advised childcare is currently identified as a need in Whistler.
Arjun Averavagu, 2104 Nordic Drive
Mr. Averavagu asked why it was assessed that off-site may be more appropriate for recreation.
Mayor J. Crompton advised this is discussed in the report and will be presented upon later tonight.
Sarah Borchard, no address given
Ms. Borchard asked why this development needs to take place on the existing land and shouldn't take place elsewhere in Whistler.
Mayor J. Crompton advised the rezoning process is limited to the land the developer owns.
Harrison Mills, 2380 Gondola Way
Mr. Mills asked if it is possible to move the WRC to Spruce Grove.
Mayor J. Crompton advised nothing is off the table at this stage in the process.
William M., 9391 Emerald Drive
Mr. M. asked if there was a particular metric that Council will listen to.
Mayor J. Crompton advised there are many metrics which are presented to Council and will form part of the report tonight.
Suzanne Johnson, 6125 Eagle Drive
Ms. Johnson asked why there was no seniors housing contemplated.
General Manager of Resort Experience J. Gresley-Jones advised there will be a spectrum of housing presented at the Open House on Monday, June 13, 2022.