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Dear Neighbours,

Thank you again to everyone who signed the petition and supported the community response to the proposed OCP amendment for Legacy Way. More than 600 signatures were gathered within 24 hours, demonstrating how strongly residents care about the future of our community. 

But we can't stop there!

For now, please ensure you complete the OCP Amendment Survey recently published by RMOW:

Complete the OCP Amendment Survey — Click Here 

Following the petition, RMOW set up a community meeting was held on July 31, 26 with Mayor Jack Crompton, Council members Ralph Forsyth and Cathy Jewett, and local residents. We were grateful that Mayor and Council made themselves available on relatively short notice, and it was encouraging to see such strong community attendance and engagement throughout the three-hour meeting, despite the time being during work hours for most residents.

Key takeaways from the meeting
Mayor Crompton and Council acknowledged that the municipality had “missed the mark” in communicating the proposed amendment. Mayor Crompton also recognized that, “we’re constantly talking about Cheakamus without Cheakamus.”

Council emphasized that they want to hear directly from residents about what the community wants. They described the OCP amendment as an exploratory opportunity to determine whether there is a case for development on the site, rather than an immediate rezoning decision. They acknowledged that questions remain around financial viability, community support and what would ultimately be appropriate for the area.

Importantly, however, an OCP amendment can be an early step toward future rezoning, so our concerns about protecting the Legacy Way parkland remain very relevant.

Our position remains clear
The purpose of the petition is not to oppose housing, commercial amenities or a grocery store. We recognize that Cheakamus Crossing needs additional infrastructure as the community grows. Our concern is where that development occurs.

The Legacy Way area was not identified for this type of development in the original community plan, and residents believe this existing parkland should be protected rather than converted to commercial or residential use.

There are other locations that may make considerably more sense for future amenities. For example, a full-service grocery store closer to the highway could potentially serve residents and visitors alike while reducing additional traffic and congestion within Cheakamus Crossing. The area near the water treatment plant that has been discussed for significant Gondola parking infrastructure may also warrant consideration for community amenities.

We also believe there should be meaningful consultation with the Lil'wat Nation regarding future plans for the current construction in Function near the highway.

Broader community concerns
The meeting also highlighted that the proposed amendment is only one piece of a much larger conversation about the future of Cheakamus Crossing.

Residents raised concerns and questions regarding:

• Traffic and congestion, including the possibility of future HOV/bus lanes and interceptive parking outside the Callaghan Valley.
• A second emergency exit from the community and the lengthy process and costs associated with making this possible.
• Wildfire evacuation and emergency preparedness, including the role of Cathy Jewett and the need for continued community input.
• Infrastructure that has not kept pace with growth, including recreation, parking and other amenities.
• Commercial viability of potential developments such as a daycare, restaurant or grocery store.
• Request to access master plan for Bayly Park and the broader Cheakamus community.
• Request to access Whistler Parks master plan and future recreation priorities.
• The location and impacts of the skatepark, including noise concerns for nearby residents.
• Illegal camping, fire safety, sanitation and enforcement concerns.
• How municipal and provincial funding could be better allocated toward community infrastructure.
• The need for better communication and ongoing community engagement.

What happens next?
One of the most important messages from Mayor and Council was that there will be further opportunities for community engagement.

We encourage everyone who cares about the future of Cheakamus Crossing to stay involved, attend upcoming meetings and provide feedback directly to Council. This is an opportunity for residents to clearly identify what our community needs and where those amenities should—and should not—be located.

We will continue to monitor the OCP process and share updates as they become available. We are also looking at ways to create more consistent opportunities for residents to stay informed and work together, including ongoing community meetings and communication channels (new FB Page ).

The conversation is not over—and our engagement matters.

Thank you again to everyone who signed the petition, attended the meeting, spoke up and continues to care about the future of our community.

Warmly,
Gabi

Photo Credit Daryl Palmer