Peachland, B.C., council gave third reading September 26 to the Romspen Group’s plan to build a nine-hole golf course and 445-unit residential development at the base of Pincushion Mountain in the South Okanagan.
Development at the site has been delayed for more than 10 years. A massive project with a golf course promoted by Greg Norman was announced in 2011. The existing golf course was shut down.
Since then 69 housing units have been built. The property was mostly divided between two owners. Romspen acquired its half in 2016.Beech Westgard owns the northern portion, where it had planned 400 homes.
At a public hearing in August, Beech Westgard had complained about a lack of consultation and the expectations that they would also build a golf course, so the area would again have a full 18-hole course.
But Peachland Mayor Patrick Van Minsel said the northern development group was wrong to claim there had been no consultation.
“The district has gone over and above in consultation efforts with Beech Westgard,” he said. “It seems the issue is not about the lack of consultation, but rather about Beech Westgard being dissatisfied with the outcome of the consultation, which is a different matter altogether.”
Final reading will be granted after necessary legal documents are registered and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure gives its approval.
Romspen is proposing to build “The Pines at Ponderosa” on the 260-acre site, with a nine-hole executive course designed by Les Furber.
Play commences in the fall of 2025, provided there are no further delays.
