Editor’s note: This letter was sent to 麻豆社国产council and MP Patrick Weiler and copied to The 麻豆社国产.
I am a local resident of Squamish, a full-time working mother of two young kids. I am writing with a short wish list for Squamish. I believe these items will improve our quality of life here in town.
Advocate with the provincial government on the STR
1) We have chosen not to list our house on Airbnb while we go away on vacation this summer, despite having done so in the past, because we feel like the price and the hassle are not worth it. We have simply done this to help fund our vacations. Since it is our principal residence, we are not removing any inventory from the long-term housing inventory stock. Instead, by removing our listing, it’s cutting into the summer short-term rental inventory in Squamish.
Can the District of 麻豆社国产engage in advocacy with the provincial government of B.C. to remove the requirement to pay the annual fee (or better yet, remove the requirement altogether) to register a full-time principal residence on the short-term rental registry?
Implement a regular Whistler bus for commuters
2) I live in Squamish, but I work full-time in Whistler on a hybrid schedule. I commute to Whistler two to three times each week, and it shocks me that there is no form of regional transit to get me there. When I do not have access to a car, I will either ride with coworkers or use Poparide. A reliable bus service would go a long way in alleviating the mental load of coordinating rides to travel to Whistler.
I know I am not alone in commuting to Whistler from Squamish. As I have learned from many Poparides, there are a lot of 麻豆社国产residents who work full-time in Whistler. What is the District currently doing to work towards a reliable regional transit service in the corridor? 麻豆社国产is expanding rapidly, and this is something that is desperately needed, both to sustain stable employment and to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Build a bike path to connect our lakes
3) It is no secret that water access in our coastal town is actually quite limited. The new oceanfront development has been an excellent addition to our town, but I feel that access to the lakes could be significantly improved by implementing active transit. Perhaps my greatest wish for 麻豆社国产is that a bike path be built to connect all of the lakes in town. From Alice Lake to Cat Lake to Brohm Lake, a bike path would go a long way in improving safe, fun and easier access to our beautiful lakes, which draw people from Vancouver every hot weekend in the summer (and limit parking), and who can blame them?!
I also believe that such a bike path would be an added feature to our tourism economy. Much like in popular destinations, like Whistler, Tofino and Ucluelet, the bike path is essentially an accessible tourist activity that allows visitors and locals alike to explore a destination with a greener footprint.
A bike path connecting the lakes has been on my mind for a long time. A couple of years ago, I contacted the person in charge of active transit at the District, and she suggested that I contact my local MP to discuss it further. She cited jurisdictional issues in creating a bike path, but surely there is a way we can work together to bring this idea to fruition. What can the District do to improve active and safe transit to our lakes via a bike path?
I love Squamish, but as with any growing community, we need improved infrastructure to maintain and improve the quality of life for residents.
Nikki Johnston
Squamish
