7720.04-2024 - 2024 Comprehensive Land Inventory for Residential Development Suitability

The RMOW is undertaking a critical update to its Official Community Plan (OCP) to address Whistler’s projected housing needs over the next 20 years. The Project is central to the OCP update as it will assist in identifying priority sites suitable for residential development to meet projected needs. The Project will result in a comprehensive inventory of potential development sites and their associated residential development
potential including housing types and number of housing units.

The inventory will be based on an assessment and screening of undeveloped and under-developed properties within the RMOW across a range of ownership and land title interests. This will include municipally owned and granted lands, private fee simple lands, Crown lands and lands for which the Lil’wat Nation and Squamish Nation have existing and potential fee simple interests.

The Project will develop a comprehensive list of potential sites, map the sites and assess the sites using available information and GIS analysis.  Assessment criteria will include municipal policies, site characteristics and site development and servicing considerations. The screening criteria will be closely aligned with the outcomes of the Whistler Complete Communities project.

In addition to the land inventory, the project encompasses a review of the 2004 “Comparative Evaluation of Potential Resident Housing Sites in Whistler” report. This review will help inform the current analysis and enhance the RMOW’s capacity to identify viable development sites to meet diverse housing demands. Each site identified will undergo an evaluation using criteria defined by the Project to determine its suitability for residential development, ensuring that the final OCP and associated Zoning and Parking Bylaw updates reflect the community’s housing needs and aspirations effectively.