The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is following through with advertised plans to expropriate a small parcel of land from a local strata to help it complete its Valley Trail puzzle.
Whistler will pay $105,000 to the Tamarisk Strata at 1400 Alta Lake Road for a 0.38-hectare slice of land separated from the bulk of the strata by Alpha Lake and Millar Creek. The funds will come from the general capital reserve, which is fed by property taxes.
As explained in a staff report, the journey began in 2018 with the RMOW and the Tamarisk Strata exploring ways for the municipality to acquire the land for public recreational use, with expropriation deemed the path of least resistance.
“All parties agreed in principle that expropriation would be the most appropriate approach going forward,” reads the report, which explained securing a statutory right-of-way wasn’t possible, while the purchase of the lands was deemed unlikely given there are 200 strata owners and the sale would require 100-per-cent agreement. As a result, expropriation at market value was selected.
Signage was erected on the site earlier in 2024.
With a deadline for inquiries from owners passed on Sept. 11, staff presented Whistler's mayor and council with the decision on approving the expropriation, which they did unanimously.
The parcel of land itself is relatively unappealing for development of anything besides public access to Alpha Lake and as another piece of the Valley Trail puzzle, as explained by staff.
The RMOW’s manager of parks and planning, Martin Pardoe, explained the parcel was hemmed in by Alpha Lake, Millar Creek and the railway line and right-of-way, and was also overlaid by a BC Hydro right-of-way, sanitary sewer lines running below it, was covered by a 30-metre CN Rail setback and a 30-metre riparian setback, and had a covenant on it that restricted development to parking and recreation only.
“It’s functionally landlocked and largely undevelopable,” he said.
That didn’t stop the RMOW from wanting to build Valley Trail through it—Valley Trail is recreation, after all.
“It presents an opportunity to provide new public access to Alpha Lake and potentially a Valley Trail connection … between Alpha Lake Park and the remainder of the network east and north,” Pardoe said.
Pardoe’s explanation was pretty airtight: No questions came from the council table, but councillors lined up to express excitement the community would own another little slice of parkland.
“It’s very exciting to see this missing chunk get incorporated into the Valley Trail system, and also be able to use Pine Point Park more as well and create more access and recreation,” said Councillor Cathy Jewett.
Coun. Arthur De Jong called it a “win win win” for Tamarisk and all the surrounding neighbourhoods.
“It enhances the quality of life in their neighbourhood and arguably value," he said.
Mayor Jack Crompton said it was an exciting step, and noted there were many more steps to come if the RMOW ends up building the trail.
“But this first step is really important in securing that land and doing the minor upgrades,” he said.
The approval of the expropriation was supported unanimously, with the land to be in RMOW hands in coming months. Any future plans around public access and Valley Trail development would be contingent on the RMOW then acquiring adjacent foreshore lands next to the parcel, which are Crown lands. That process is underway and expected to be completed in early 2025.
Following that and minor “light touch” improvements to improve public safety, design, referrals and engagement would commence for the ultimate development of the Valley Trail, which Pardoe reported would not start until 2026 at the earliest. That project is currently unfunded.
