There was an exchange of words between a Peachland councillor and a developer at council含羞草研究社檚 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. 

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

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.

含羞草研究社淪o any idea that we含羞草研究社檙e running away or doing anything is ludicrous,含羞草研究社� he said. 

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

含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 know if everyone will agree but it含羞草研究社檚 one of the worst drafted documents I含羞草研究社檝e ever seen. I don含羞草研究社檛 think it含羞草研究社檚 being unfair to try and get something clarified when it含羞草研究社檚 not clear.含羞草研究社�

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

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

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

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e already seen multiple developments do that, I含羞草研究社檓 not going to assume,含羞草研究社� she said, asking why additional time wasn含羞草研究社檛 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.

含羞草研究社淲e had to negotiate a new agreement. We took this property over in 2018 and six years later we haven含羞草研究社檛 been able to do anything.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淭he district has been fair and it含羞草研究社檚 taken a while but we have clarifications, and I apologize that it含羞草研究社檚 taken this long.含羞草研究社�

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.

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

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.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e been contacted by many people living there and nothing含羞草研究社檚 happened yet,含羞草研究社� Van Minsel added. 含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e concerned and I share their concern.含羞草研究社� 

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