A deal has been reached between the County’s planning department and Kaitlin Group that could give the developer the green light for its 373-unit residential golf course community by next summer. The announcement was made by Mayor Leo Finnegan at a public meeting at Wellington’s town hall, sponsored by the village’s business association to gather feedback on the proposal.

Twice the developer has been blocked at council this year as the County’s planning department urged a review of Wellington’s secondary plan before it would give its endorsement to the project. Kaitlin countered that it has been working with the planning department for two years—making changes to address local concerns— and the issue of a review of the secondary plan had not come up until this spring. Kaitlin said a delay of up to two years awaiting the completion of the review could jeopardize the viability of the project.

For even if the project passed the secondary plan review, Kaitlin still faced many months of regulatory hurdles— as Planning Commissioner Gerry Murphy explained to the Times—a development project of this scale requires multiple planning approvals.

As part of the deal stuck between the County and Kaitlin Group planning staff will process all three applications concurrently— the official plan amendment including a review of the secondary plan, a zoning bylaw amendment and a subdivision agreement.

In May council will consider the official plan amendment, in June it will consider the zoning change and subdivision agreement.

“By next summer, Kaitlin Group will know if this is going ahead or if they are going home,” Finnegan told the gathering. Murphy says both sides got what they needed.

“The secondary plan gets updated and Kaitlin doesn’t lose any time in their overall application,” said Murphy. Kaitlin principal Kelvin Whalen said that even with an expedited regulatory approvals process it would be 2011 before shovels would be in the ground. He also offered assurances that his firm would listen to local concerns and aspirations. “We are a large developer seeking to build in a small community,” said Whalen. “We understand the responsibilities that go with that.”

He noted that his company has already altered the mix of housing to serve a variety of potential homeowners as suggested by planning staff and Wellington Councillor Peter Mertens.

“We are considering beginning price points of between $150,000 and $160,000 for one-bedroom units comprising approximately 750 square feet,” said Whalen. “We hope to target first-time homebuyers. It’s a market need that is not currently being met here.”

Several comments from the gathering encouraged the developer to be conscientious of the architecture and design of the homes so that they are consistent with the village.

“The architecture of Main Street tells a story of this community, where we have been and what is important to us,” said Elizabeth Lancaster from the back of the room. “What story are you going to tell?”

Whalen cautioned that it was still much too early in the process to consider home design.

“We don’t even have a project yet,” Whalen responded. “But we would be wise to listen to these comments when the time comes.”

Others inquired about the proposed golf course—when would it be built? What would the impact be on the existing golf course at Wellington on the Lake?

Whalen said there were considerable differences in the product offering between courses but ultimately it means healthy competition between businesses. Mayor Finnegan also observed that a cluster of golf courses can become an attraction on its own. “The more golf courses the better,” said Finnegan. “People will stay and play a different course each day. We are a tourist area and golfing is a very popular tourist activity.”

In its Port of Newcastle project near Bowmanville, Kaitlin is involved in a legal tussle with home buyers who say the developer reneged on a promise to build a golf course in their community.

Wellington businessman Stewart McFarland wanted to know what assurances Whalen could give that the golf course would ever get built. Whalen said developing the golf course would follow the first phase of housing. He also said the circumstances in Port of Newcastle were very different than in Wellington.

“It was never a golf course community,” said Whalen carefully, as the matter is still before the courts. “We considered a pitch and putt course at the north end while the project developed in that direction—but it was always going to be a temporary facility— the residents knew that.”

In Wellington we are building community built around the golf course. Every unit will have some exposure to the golf course or to green space nearby,” promised Whalen.

The deal reached between the planning department and Kaitlin group was expected to be ratified by council on Tuesday night.