RMOW is moving forward with a plan to expropriate 0.38 hectares at 1400 Alta Lake Road, known as Tamarisk Common Property, for future public recreation. At a meeting today, staff will ask the council to approve the expropriation under the Expropriation Act, allowing the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) to acquire the land.
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Since 2018, the RMOW has been working to secure this triangular parcel, currently part of the Tamarisk strata, with plans to develop it into a recreational area. The land is functionally undeveloped due to its proximity to the CN Rail line, flood risks, and existing infrastructure, which offers potential for public access to Alpha Lake.
Staff explored alternative acquisition methods with the strata, including purchase or right-of-way agreements, but neither proved feasible. Both parties agreed that expropriation was the best course of action, but it was temporarily paused during the province’s Land Use Contract (LUC) termination process. With that process now complete, RMOW resumed the acquisition efforts earlier this year.
In August 2024, an official Notice of Expropriation was issued, with 30 days for any objections. No objections were filed by the September 11 deadline—a third-party appraisal valued the land at $105,000. Once the expropriation is approved, RMOW will pay the strata owners and file a Vesting Notice with the Land Title Office, securing ownership. Tamarisk strata owners may still seek additional compensation through the BC Supreme Court within a year of the payment, notes the staff report to council.
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The acquisition is part of a broader plan to improve public access to Whistler’s lakefronts. Although the Tamarisk land does not directly provide lake access, it is a critical piece of a larger RMOW vision that includes connecting the land to Alpha Lake Park and developing a new section of the Valley Trail. A second nearby parcel, expected to be acquired from the province by early 2025, will enable public access to Alpha Lake from Alta Lake Road.
“Lake access is increasingly in demand, especially during the summer months,” noted the staff report, citing pressures from population growth and rising regional visitor numbers. Whistler’s lakefront parks, particularly during the pandemic, have seen heightened usage, and climate change is expected to increase demand for lake recreation.
The RMOW plans to develop a small lakefront park and potentially link the area with a new section of the Valley Trail.