New plan

Developer presents new proposal putting retirement home behind McFarland Memorial Home

Mayor Peter Mertens says he and council have listened to the concerns expressed by residents of McFarland Memorial Home and have responded to them. He says they have worked with Nautical Lands Group to revise their plans—away from the front of the property—and in doing so the developers have modified their own ideas to better address a range of needs identified in the County’s Age-In-Place concept.

Peter McGregor of Nautical Lands Group, along with Mayor Mertens, met with Mc- Farland residents last week to present the new proposal—two retirement apartment buildings and eight four-unit villas, all to be located on four acres of land to the rear of the nursing home.

Some residents remain apprehensive about what changes may be in store for the property around the nursing home, but most welcomed the fact that the front yard of McFarland Memorial Home would remain parkland. Mertens and Gregor assured them they would be consulted at every step.

Some worried that the accommodation proposed by Nautical Lands Group might be out of reach for original County families. Gregor noted that his firm is responding to the lack of housing for seniors that offers both independent living along with the benefit of seeing people every day.

“We know there is a need in your community,” said Gregor. “By the time we get to a presentation like this we’ve already determined the need.”

Mertens told the meeting that council was planning to modify the Official Plan to ensure the front yard of McFarland remains parkland.

But he noted as well that the nursing home must be replaced within the next 11 years. Mertens explained that he was working to develop a plan to redevelop the nursing home and add capacity to the facility. He said this would be a tough sell.

“The province wants to put new nursing care beds where the population is growing,” said Mertens. “We are trying to explain to them that our community is getting older and that we will need to do something anyway—that it makes sense to build new capacity here.”

At its Planning meeting on Wednesday, they chose to defer the official plan amendment to gather more information. Then on Thursday, council agreed to declare the four acres identified by the developer as surplus—the first step toward selling the land to the developer.

Some councillors, still feeling the sting of admonishment by McFarland residents a week earlier, urged their colleagues to slow down. But CAO Merlin Dewing noted that this was only the first step of a multi-part process that includes an Official Plan Amendment, rezoning application, an offer to purchase, site development plan and an assortment of studies—each to be decided by council.

“This is just the entry level,” explained Dewing.

Others noted that this was an opportunity the municipality shouldn’t pass up.

“We have a need for this kind of housing in our community,” reiterated Mertens. “We put this concept before the community in June. The developer has responded to our need to move on the project and they have expanded it. We aren’t their only option. They can invest in many other communities who are looking for this kind of housing.

“They see the opportunity. If we wait for all the pieces to fall into place 10 years could pass by.”

Councillor Bev Campbell agreed, saying “there is no value in impeding the process.”

Councillor Jamie Forrester said this development is the right concept for Prince Edward County and its aging population.

Councillor Nick Nowitski was impressed that Nautical Lands Group listened to the concerns of the community and responded so quickly.

“They showed me they are committed to this community,” said Nowitski. “It’s a great opportunity. We need to grasp it.”

There are many more hurdles ahead but the first is now behind them.