Expansion of planned golf course raises some concerns
By Bill Rea

A golf course might not be the best neighbour to have in a rural area, but it's better than a gravel pit.

That point was made by one of the concerned residents who turned up at last week's public meeting on the proposal to expand the Pinnacle Heights Golf and Country Club near Melville.

The property in question consists of almost 183 acres at Lots 23, 24 and 25, Concession 1, in West Caledon, on the east side of Willoughby Road, south of Highpoint Sideroad.

Town planners explained the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) approved the development of an 18-hole course about three years ago on lands to the east, known as phase 1. The proposal now is to expand the development to 27 holes, taking in the lands in question.

The proposal will require an amendment to Caledon's Official Plan designation from from rural, agricultural and environmental policy area (EPA) to open space policy area and EPA.

Glen Broll, a partner in the planning consultant firm of Glen Schnarr and Associates, said the zoning for the first 18 holes was in place, as well as the bylaw for the course and associated clubhouse. He added the proposed course has been planned out.

Adding the second phase, Broll said, "allows the project to breathe a little bit more."

While he agreed this will mean the development agreement will have to be amended, Broll said he thought this would be an improvement. "The 27-hole layout works well," he remarked, adding there will have to be some adjustments on where trees were to go. But he said the adjustments will be in keeping with the spirit of what's previously been approved.

Broll said an environmental interpretation report has been submitted, and it identified and addresses such issues as the use of pesticides. He added they have looked at matters of water supply, aggregate resources, etc.

The lands are in a protected countryside designation of the provincial Greenbelt. Urban growth is not allowed there, but it is considered acceptable for recreation and tourism uses.

Broll said the property is in a rural area of Peel Region's Official Plan.

The plan is to access the course off Highway 10. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) had previously stated it would allow access only if an adjacent gas station near the south end of the site is acquired and merged on title with the rest of the property, and Broll said that has happened, and the plan is to redevelop the station.

The course will be accessed by a long, meandering driveway. The will be a maintenance shack near the gas station.

Broll said the development will include opportunities for overnight accommodations, through a series of villas. This will give it a resort component, he observed.

The servicing on the site will be private, and Broll said there is sufficient room for septic systems. He added a water budget has been prepared for the development. "There's ample water supply here," he said, adding there won't be any impacts on neighbouring wells.

That was an issue on the mind of one man at the meeting, who said he lives at the southwest corner of the property, on Willoughby, and has a 30-foot dug well.

Broll told him all the well testing was conducted further to the north, and on the phase 1 lands. He added these wells are expected to have small areas of influence, so he didn't think this man's well would be affected at all.

He also said water will be taken for irrigation, but they will be careful not to overdo it. He added they will also be careful not to overuse fertilizers.

The man also said there are three driveways on the Willoughby side of the property, and he wondered what the plans are for them. As well, he had heard of plans to tear down a house on Willoughby. That was news to Broll, who said there are no plans for that, or to use one of the driveways to access the site. the entrance will be off highway 10, where he said it belongs. Those three driveways will probably eventually be closed, although the exact timing of that will worked out as the finishing touches to the plan are worked out.

Casey Blakely, senior development planner for the Town, said the Public Works department will want a onefoot reserve on Willoughby, although she also told Councillor Doug Beffort one of the driveways might be used as a temporary construction access point.

One local woman was concerned about the plan for the villas, stating she bought her property two years ago to get away from development.

Broll told her they were interested in giving the course something "a little unique," but not like a standard hotel.

"We're not trying to impose on you," he declared, adding they can look at greater setbacks and types of screening.

"I'm surrounded by nothing but beautiful nature right now," the woman declared, adding she doesn't want to look at villas and she doesn't want to look at screening that will benefit a golf course that won't benefit her at all. Just talking about villas, she said, "has just put my blood pressure right up."

Another Willoughby woman, living closer to the middle of the property, said she is already well protected by trees and she wanted assurances they are going to stay. "I don't want golf balls and things coming down on my property," she said.

Consulting a plan of the course, Broll determined the 15th hole will be the closest to her property, and he said there is no desire on the part of the developer to take out any of the trees protecting her.

One man living on the west side of Willoughby said he liked the idea of the course, making the point that it's better than a subdivision or gravel pit. But he did say he shared he concerns expressed about the villas. Broll said their exact location still has to be determined.

The EPA is in the middle of the property, with the golf course slated to surround it. Councillor Nick DeBoer wondered if the villas could go closer to that, without actually encroaching. Broll observed the Credit Valley Conservation authority might have some trouble with that, but agreed it was something that could be considered.

DeBoer said he lives next to a golf course, and he observed neighbours provide security, so there's a benefit to keeping them happy.

Beffort also brought up the issue of traffic conditions on Highway 10. Broll said a southbound lane for slowing down has been considered.

Land Development Engineer Chris Crozier said MTO will dictate if a leftturn lane is to be installed. "They are one of the most onerous agencies in the province," he declared.

Beffort also asked if the applicants would be ready to do a baseline study to determine the current state of local wells.

"I'm just wondering if we haven't already," Broll replied. "If we haven't done it already, we'll do a base line study of these wells."

Beffort also wondered if there were plans to add more holes to the 27 in the works. Broll said the application calls for at least 27. There was a time when 36 holes were being considered, but they opted to have more land between the holes, along with a driving range and the tourist component. He added he's concentrating on getting the 27 in place, with no plans to expand that.

Broll also told Beffort the course will be a public "payas you-play" facility. He added the clubhouse has not been designed yet, so he couldn't say what kind of functions would be held there.