Looking to get caught up on the latest from Council? We’ve pulled together some key stories from the September 2, 2025 Regular Council and Committee of the Whole meetings, including:
- The RMOW’s 30-year major building facilities strategy
- Rezoning amendment for the Whistler 2010 Sports Legacies housing project
- Financing scenarios for Lot 3 and Lot 5 employee housing
For all the details, find council reports and video recordings of the full meetings at whistler.ca.
Whistler looks 30 years into the future for building facility needs
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is looking to get well ahead of our long-term building needs, including the need for more emergency service and community recreation space.
At the Tuesday, September 2 Committee of the Whole meeting, we presented our 30-Year Major Building Facilities Strategy. The strategy is intended as a foundation to begin planning for future work, related to six key facilities:
- Municipal Hall
- Public Works Yard
- Public Safety Building (RCMP and Fire Hall No. 1)
- Fire Hall No. 2 in Alpine
- Fire Hall No. 3 in Spring Creek
- Meadow Park Sports Centre
The strategy assessed the facilities’ current condition, as well as anticipating how they can accommodate the needs of a growing population into the future. It also explored the potential for facility upgrades, replacement, and potential new or expanded facilities that may be required over the next 30 years.
Read the full report here.
Whistler Sport Legacies housing application moves ahead
An application by the Whistler 2010 Olympic Sport Legacies Society to build 110 employee housing units and some additional auxiliary and community space moved ahead at the September 2 Council meeting.
The project would include a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Additional uses for the proposed auxiliary space could include meeting spaces, gyms, daycare facilities and other approved uses.
The intention is for the units to be used for affordable employee housing in the community.
“I would really like to thank Whistler Sport Legacies for the leadership they’ve shown in providing employee housing,” said Councillor Cathy Jewett.
Council voted unanimously to give the bylaw amendment its first three readings. Council voted to adopt the project at the September 16 Council meeting.
Read the full report here.
Cheakamus Crossing Lot 3 employee housing plans dependent on finance timing
At the September 2 Council meeting, staff dove into the financial feasibility of a project currently underway with collaboration between the RMOW, the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) and the Whistler Development Corporation (WDC) in Cheakamus Crossing.
Two employee housing sites are currently being developed in the neighbourhood: Lot 3 and Lot 5. Lot 5 has an estimated completion date in 2026, while Lot 3 is planned for completion in 2028. Lot 5 began construction last year and site preparation for Lot 3 this spring. For now, the WDC has enough money to fund construction on both lots by using the Cheakamus Crossing Affordable Housing Reserve funds it borrowed from the RMOW reserves earlier this year. However, without confirmed external funding and a Lot 3 land sale, WDC’s money and access to existing funding will shortly run out.
The Lot 3 land sale, valued at $3 million, and the Development and Construction Services Agreement (DCSA) will go ahead for this project when the WHA confirms its funding partners. The $5.9-million investment in equity support, sourced from our Employee Housing and Cheakamus Crossing reserves, is expected to be transferred to WHA to support spending on the project shortly after. Other funds that will need to be secured to support the remainder of the Lot 3 project are contingent on confirmation of external financing.
The report to Council looked at several scenarios, one of which could delay Lot 3 construction.
Municipal staff noted no additional funding is needed at this time if the WHA secures external funding and the sale goes through soon, but action may need to be taken if the DCSA is not completed in October.
The second scenario would require the land be sold as planned, and the DCSA signed, but the external funding might be delayed until January. That would require an additional $5 million in bridge financing for Lot 3.
A third and less likely scenario is that the external financing sought by the WHA does not materialize. In that case, the WDC would be unable to proceed further with Lot 3 because they would have no funds and no source of external financing through the WHA.
Municipal staff made several recommendations for Council consideration to keep both projects on track. One is to extend the first repayment date on the Cheakamus Crossing Phase 2 neighbourhood-level financing agreement, which would delay payment by the WDC up until January 2026.
Another is to consider extending additional bridge funding for Lot 3 to the WDC. This would give the WDC more time to continue construction on their own, while the WHA looks to secure alternate funding, such as additional government housing grants.
In any case, it was recommended in the future that development of a comprehensive financing plan for every Employee Housing project happen before the initiation of construction, so as to avoid this type of outcome where construction is underway and may need to be paused due to lack of funds.
Council voted in favour of extending the repayment date on the $1 million from the neighbourhood-level agreement, and also voted to work toward a new Lot 3 financing agreement that captures the expected WDC spending on that project when that number is better known. This action depends on the WHA receiving their share of initial funds for the project.
Read the full report here.
To attend an upcoming meeting, check out the Council meeting Schedule. Agendas and Minutes are available online. To connect with Council, consider Borrowing a Councillor from the Library’s Unusual Items Collection, or get in touch with them individually by phone or email.