There was an exchange of words between a Peachland councillor and a developer at council害羞草研究所檚 Sept. 10 meeting over a delay in building a golf course as part of The Pines at Ponderosa development.

Romspen Investment Corporation asked to extend two amenity completion dates within the phasing strategy for the neighbourhood. The golf course was to be completed and operating by Nov. 1, 2025, and a connection between Sommerset Road and Ponderosa Drive was to be done by May 2024. 

Rompsen requested an opening date of Nov. 1, 2026, for the golf course and a completion date of Nov. 1, 2025, for the road connection.

Councillor Alena Glasman pointed out the company was already four months past one deadline. 

害羞草研究所淲e are now in September 2024 and they害羞草研究所檙e coming back to the table begging forgiveness rather than asking for permission,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲hy are we doing this?害羞草研究所�

Romspen's Richard Weldon, appearing by video, took exception to the comments, noting the company has $40 million invested in the project which includes the building of more than 400 homes.

害羞草研究所淪o any idea that we害羞草研究所檙e running away or doing anything is ludicrous,害羞草研究所� he said. 

He added that Romspen has been working with the district for the past several months to clarify the phasing development agreement.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know if everyone will agree but it害羞草研究所檚 one of the worst drafted documents I害羞草研究所檝e ever seen. I don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檚 being unfair to try and get something clarified when it害羞草研究所檚 not clear.害羞草研究所�

Weldon said the company has no intention to delay the development and is trying to move forward.

害羞草研究所淩omspen hasn害羞草研究所檛 pulled a nickel out of this in the last six, seven years and we害羞草研究所檙e sitting with a $40 million debt, which maybe nobody cares about, but we certainly do, and we have our people to report to.害羞草研究所�

Glasman countered that her comments were not suggesting that Romspen would pull the plug on the project. 

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e already seen multiple developments do that, I害羞草研究所檓 not going to assume,害羞草研究所� she said, asking why additional time wasn害羞草研究所檛 considered for the golf course design and build.

Weldon said there were no approvals or permits at the time, and referred to a lack of detail in the phasing agreement.

害羞草研究所淲e had to negotiate a new agreement. We took this property over in 2018 and six years later we haven害羞草研究所檛 been able to do anything.害羞草研究所�

He applauded the current council for trying to break the log jam Romspen has been stuck with.

害羞草研究所淭he district has been fair and it害羞草研究所檚 taken a while but we have clarifications, and I apologize that it害羞草研究所檚 taken this long.害羞草研究所�

Mayor Patrick Van Minsel pointed out that plans for a Greg Norman designed 18-hole course for the property fell apart more than 10 years ago.

害羞草研究所淲e finally have somebody who has the intention to build and I will go with the recommendation and get this done.害羞草研究所� 

Council voted to grant the extensions. Coun. Rick Ingram recused himself from the discussion and vote noting a perceived conflict of interest.

The mayor also questioned Weldon about completing landscape work at The Trails, another Romspen project, and when it might be finished.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been contacted by many people living there and nothing害羞草研究所檚 happened yet,害羞草研究所� Van Minsel added. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e concerned and I share their concern.害羞草研究所� 

Weldon said he expects the work to be done in the next four to six weeks.