Dear Editor,

The long, sorry Cheakamus Crossing saga comes to a head this Sept. 7 when the quarry and asphalt bylaw come to public hearing. It’s when the citizens have their say, and is for all practical purposes the last chance at stopping the rezoning.

This has become a much larger issue than whether a neighborhood has an industrial plant in it or not. Societies run on laws, from global United Nations initiatives right down to rinky-dink municipal bylaws. When a local government decides, for whatever their reasons, that they are going to ignore their own bylaw, then what does any of it mean? What’s to stop them from doing the same thing in Emerald, Alpine, Nordic, or Creekside? I strongly urge everyone, not just Cheakamus Crossing residents, to write a letter to council (do it quickly), sign the petition, or speak at the public hearing.

I’d like to address some comments from Councillor Quinlan at the last council meeting. He mentioned that there was a large, silent majority of Whistlerites who where in favour of the asphalt plant rezoning, and that they were intimidated by the vocal protests of the Cheakamus Crossing residents. I’d like to extend my personal invitation to anybody who would like to speak in favour of the asphalt plant at the public hearing. The Cheakamus Crossing residents are understandably upset, but I don’t believe they are the kind of people to hold grudges or bring undue pressure on anyone who favours the rezoning. A community where people are afraid to express their views isn’t worth living in, no matter how beautiful the surroundings.

David Buzzard

Whistler