The debate over future development at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort was deferred Monday night by Qualicum Beach town council in front of a crowd that spilled outside the chambers and into the hallways.
Town planning director Luke Sales’ recommendation asked council to refuse Pheasant Glen’s application to amend current zoning and the Official Community Plan. Sales told council he didn’t believe the applicant had supplied enough information and he also said it would be more appropriate to explore the development of the south Qualicum Beach area during the next OCP review, not slated until 2016-17.
Coun. Bill Luchtmeijer said the information about the application wasn’t received by councillors until Friday and his motion to defer the debate passed.
The recommendation for refusal put forward by Sales didn’t sit well with Pheasant Glen’s Craig Dutton.
“The planning department continues to do what it always does in Qualicum Beach and that is talk about development, talk about resorts and then find every way possible to interpret every regulation as broadly as possible to ensure none of that ever happens in Qualicum Beach and Mr. Sales carried that tradition on tonight,” said Dutton. “(The town has) delayed, delayed and found every possible excuse to keep us from doing anything since 2009 and that tradition continues. We want to get on with it. We believe in the project, we’ve invested $10 million, we all live here. My dad’s 80 years old.”
Pheasant Glen proposes to build 100 vacation homes, 60 resort cabins, a clubhouse and pavilion. The Dutton family hosted two open houses at the golf course in September and more than 100 people attended. The family did submit a plan, which was approved, for development of the resort years ago, but it had a hotel facility and did not require any OCP amendments. That plan called for 225 dwelling units as opposed to the 160 in the current plan.
“This town needs to have opportunities for families to move into town — if you don’t allow any new homes . . . I don’t believe that Mr. Sales interpretation is accurate and if I’m given the opportunity to fight it I will.”
After the meeting, the comments by Dutton about a tradition of zero growth were relayed to Sales and he said “that’s certainly not the case, absolutely not. What I’m, saying is if we are going to do it, let’s do it right. Qualicum Beach has a long tradition of comprehensive planning and we generally stick with our plans.”
Dutton said his family obtained a legal opinion from what he described as the “lead” municipal law firm in the province about whether his development requires the involvement of the regional district and changes to regional growth strategies or urban containment boundaries.
“We supplied (the town) with a legal opinion . . . and we asked (the law firm) if this change required a full-blown regional growth amendment including the RDN and other jurisdictions, and in (the law firm’s) opinion it does not. It’s a minor change and it’s entirely within the power of council.”
“We have a different one (legal opinion),” said Sales. “Lawyers don’t always agree.”
During the council meeting, Coun. Scott Tanner was quick to move the staff recommendation to refuse the application. That motion died on the table after Luchtmeijer stepped forward with his idea to defer the debate.
“I think we need to have some serious discussions about what Pheasant Glen is asking for and what kind of hoops we have to go through for anything to happen out there,” said Luchtmeijer.
Some members of the public took to the microphone at the end of the council meeting to express their support for the Pheasant Glen plan and to chastise town staff.
“You are losing potential development,” said Brian DiBiasio. “You owe them a decision and you can’t leave people hanging forever.”
“I hope you would care enough about the economic health of our community,” Wendy Maurer said in support of the development. Maurer also said provincial legislation was set up to allow changes to OCPs between official reviews.
“In our opinion the development at Pheasant Glen should be endorsed by the town,” said Denyse Widdifield. “Town council must work to improve the economy of Qualicum Beach. We really need to regain our tourism footing.”
Council wandered into a greater discussion about the urban containment boundary and possible implications to changing it to coincide with the town’s boundary. Mayor Teunis Westbroek warned against such a change, at one point saying such a move could put “the 18th fairway” at Eaglecrest in peril of development.
“What you just said is entirely untrue,” Coun. Dave Willie said in response to the mayor. “You are misleading the general public. It (any development) would still require zoning (changes).”
Council will have a meeting Nov. 25 to discuss more about the regional growth strategy and urban containment boundaries, but it’s not clear when the Pheasant Glen development application would come back before council.
