Eaglecrest Update # 2

The Public Open House for the purchase of the Eaglecrest Golf Course was held on September 9, 2025. There were two sessions. The first was at 3:30 PM, with the second at 5:30 PM. The room was overflowing for the first session with approximately 300 in attendance. Attendance at the second session was approximately 100 persons. This is possibly the highest attendance for a public meeting in Qualicum Beach.

The meeting opened with the announcement that the purchase price for the lands is $8.5 million. As you may be aware, the Town is paying the purchase price of $8.5 million using funds held in reserves for other projects. The idea is that the Town will replace the reserve funds from the sale of land at a later date.

The meeting then focused on the use to which the lands would be put following the purchase. Should there be a golf course? How much parkland? What type of housing? The type of housing is important as the type chosen will determine how much land will remain for golf course/parkland, how much is available for housing development and how much developers will pay the Town for it. As mentioned above, it is intended that the money paid by developers will be used to replace the money in the various reserve funds so the price received by the Town is important. We were informed by the presenter, Mark Holland, that developers will pay different amounts for the land, with the price being dictated by the type of housing (in other words, the density) that the Town will permit on the lands. For example, if the lands can be used for low density patio homes, the net amount paid to the Town according to Mr. Holland will be $500,000 to $750,000 per acre. Townhouses will net the Town $1 million per acre. Four storey apartment/condominiums will net the Town $2 million per acre. Mr. Holland also mentioned that we are not likely to see three storey buildings on the golf course lands as these seem to be a thing of the past since no one is building, or lending money for, them. There was further discussion about the fact that higher density would use less of the land, leaving more for golf course and parkland, and produce the best financial result for the town in repaying the $8.5 million to the reserves. The crux of the matter appears to be whether to have higher density four storey buildings that will provide more parkland and, potentially, excess money for other projects after repayment of the reserve funds versus low density patio homes that will reduce the amount of parkland available and, potentially, affect the repayment of the reserves. Council will be walking a fine line in trying to resolve this issue.

I was disappointed with the open house as I thought that more financial information regarding the purchase and ensuing development of the land would have been disclosed, thus permitting an analysis of the transaction. As it was, there was little in the way of actual numbers. Other attendees may have a different opinion, however to me the open house seemed to assume that the purchase of the lands will happen with the purpose of the meeting being to ask the public for input about the use of the lands. It reminded me of a similar meeting a few years ago for the skateboard park. I thought that I was going to a meeting at which the pros and cons of whether to build a new skatepark would be discussed with a decision to follow at a later date. Rather, the meeting presupposed that the skatepark would be built, with the purpose of the meeting being to solicit design ideas from the attendees.

The next opportunity for public input will be the Official Public Hearing at 2 PM on October 6, 2025 at Council Chambers. The notice for the public hearing states that the "proposal materials" (in the words of the notice) will be available 2 weeks prior to the meeting, either on line or at the Town Hall. The content of the proposal materials is not known. Hopefully, there will be some financial information. In any event, I encourage all who have an interest in the purchase of the golf course lands, whether for or against, to review the proposal materials, assess the proposed purchase, attend the public hearing and provide comments to Council to assist them in making their decision. I would also advise those wanting to attend the public hearing in person to go early as, based on the attendance at the open house, seating will be limited.

James Noel

September 12, 2025

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