There has been a lot of talk about the rezoning/new development at 4500 Northlands Blvd. recently, and with good reason, as it allows residents to give feedback and voice concerns over a major development very close to the village.
I am curious about updates on the Lil’wat Nation development at Function Junction—where is this up to? Pique has not covered this development in some time. Why are we not getting the same ability to comment and give feedback on a development that goes directly against the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) commitment to “Move Beyond the Car by 2030?”
(Editor’s note: The enhanced rezoning for the Northlands goes above and beyond standard development requirements. The Lil’wat Nation’s Function Junction development is following a standard development process. Pique requested an update on the project from the Lil’wat Nation, which said there are no details to provide at this time.)
Allowing planning for a new gas station to be built in Whistler goes directly against the RMOW’s commitments. It is hypocritical of council to be allowing applications for the development of new gas stations in Whistler if they are also trying to claim that reducing cars is their No. 1 goal, followed closely by decarbonizing passenger and commercial transport. New gas stations actively support carbon-based travel and the use of cars by improving availability and access to a fossil fuel that we should be replacing with renewables.
Petaluma, Calif. became the first city in the world to prohibit new gas stations in 2021. Since then, four more cities have prohibited new gas stations permanently and at least six more, including Los Angeles, are developing policies now. A wave of cities passed building electrification policies in 2019, and the movement to stop new gas stations has arrived—our community would be wise to take notice.
No matter how you look at it, gas stations are a bad investment in Whistler’s future.
I wrote to council on this matter on June 23 and have yet to receive a response.
