Built Environment

The Built Environment Strategy addresses how the physical characteristics of Whistler’s buildings and neighborhoods make the resort community unique, livable and sustainable. It includes residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings as well as their surrounding landscape and paved areas. It addresses the locations and patterns of development as well as the amount and timing of these developments. Finally, this strategy excludes service infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer lines.

Introduction

Whistler is a successful destination resort, centered on a lively pedestrian village located at the base of two world-class mountains. The resort community currently accommodates over two million visitors per year and was purpose-planned to encourage social interaction, create vibrancy and support a healthy tourism economy. Throughout the municipality, neighbourhoods are connected to the spectacular environs through both abundant access to green space as well as ubiquitous views to local mountain and valley landscapes. However, these successes have come at a price, and the impacts on the valley have been considerable. If Whistler is going to continue to offer a highly attractive travel destination, ensure residents enjoy a high quality of life, and responsibly steward the natural environment, appropriate land use and innovative built-form management must be achieved...

Description of Success

In 2020, Whistler’s built environment is vibrant, reflects the community’s character, contributes to individual health and wellbeing, and is moving toward its identified sustainability objectives. By this time:

Limits to growth are understood and respected
The built environment is attractive and vibrant, reflecting the resort community’s character, protecting viewscapes and evoking a dynamic sense of place
Visitors and residents can readily immerse themselves in nature, free from noise and light pollution
To maintain vibrancy, Whistler Village is the core of the resort community
Community spaces encourage personal interaction and shared activities
The built environment is safe and accessible for people of all abilities, anticipating and accommodating wellbeing needs and satisfying visitor expectations
Continuous encroachment on nature is avoided
Residents live, work and play in relatively compact, mixed-use neighborhoods that reflect Whistler’s character and are close to appropriate green space, transit, trails, amenities and services
Building design, construction and operation is characterized by efficiency, durability and flexibility for changing and long-term uses
The new and renovated built environment has transitioned towards sustainable management of energy and materials
Landscaped areas consist of native plant species that eliminate the need for watering and chemical use
Streamlined policies, regulations and programs have helped to efficiently and effectively achieve green development
Building ownership is structured to continually encourage transition toward a flexible and improved built environment over time
Whistler’s green building sector contributes to the local economy
Smart growth policies and initiatives contribute to the financial health of the community
Whistler is globally recognized as a centre of excellence in sustainable community development