Development on the Royal York Golf Course

[visimp]

I and other golf club members received a notice from the owners of the Royal York Golf Course about a pending sale of the golf course to N &T Properties which is a division of Kal Tire. Apparently, the developers are intending to dig up the course and replace it with something like 200 homes or townhomes. This will remove the reason why so many people live in Armstrong including those who just invested over 18 million dollars in Royal York Estates to live next to the golf course and enjoy their favourite game.

Besides the golfers throughout the North Okanagan, the development will also affect the taxes of every resident in Armstrong. For starters, at a recent City Council meeting, it was stated that 2 new lift stations would have to be created by the City at the taxpayers expense to improve the sewer system in that area of the city if the development proceeds.

Traffic to and from the new development has to travel along Van Kleek Road and York Drive to merge with Okanagan Street to get out of the area. At the nominal 2 cars per household that is 400 more vehicles in the confined area.

There is no official paperwork with the City as of Dec 10th but obviously, there is a growing group of taxpayers who are intending to inform the City of their concerns and and to get a petition started to squash this potential development in one of the City's largest and last green spaces.

If you are interested in being kept up to date with the taxpayers efforts, please voice your concerns to [email protected]

[gman313]

It's private property *removed* lol. plenty more you can live next to.

[Fancy]

That's too bad about the sale. I know of quite a few people that enjoyed that golf course (myself included). Unfortunately times change and more than a few courses have gone the way of the dodo bird.

[dontrump]

I and other golf club members received a notice from the owners of the Royal York Golf Course about a pending sale of the golf course to N &T Properties which is a division of Kal Tire. Apparently, the developers are intending to dig up the course and replace it with something like 200 homes or townhomes. This will remove the reason why so many people live in Armstrong including those who just invested over 18 million dollars in Royal York Estates to live next to the golf course and enjoy their favourite game.

Besides the golfers throughout the North Okanagan, the development will also affect the taxes of every resident in Armstrong. For starters, at a recent City Council meeting, it was stated that 2 new lift stations would have to be created by the City at the taxpayers expense to improve the sewer system in that area of the city if the development proceeds.

Traffic to and from the new development has to travel along Van Kleek Road and York Drive to merge with Okanagan Street to get out of the area. At the nominal 2 cars per household that is 400 more vehicles in the confined area.

There is no official paperwork with the City as of Dec 10th but obviously, there is a growing group of taxpayers who are intending to inform the City of their concerns and and to get a petition started to squash this potential development in one of the City's largest and last green spaces.

If you are interested in being kept up to date with the taxpayers efforts, please voice your concerns to [email protected]

seems strange that a multi billion dollar tire company wants to get into the land/home development business; I do feel sorry for the people that live there and play and enjoy the 9 hole course for sure but times change as do people lots of golf at spall

only a short drive away and a much better course for sure

[OKkayak]

seems strange that a multi billion dollar tire company wants to get into the land/home development business;

Kal Tire (N&T Properties) has been in the real estate/development game for years. Its a good move, taking the success of your company, and investing in other ventures.

[dontrump]

seems strange that a multi billion dollar tire company wants to get into the land/home development business;

Kal Tire (N&T Properties) has been in the real estate/development game for years. Its a good move, taking the success of your company, and investing in other ventures.

they only did that as far as Kal tire buildings go and they have lots of them I don't figure them at all to be interested in a housing development but that was just an observation/opinion on my part

[Ingevan22]

You can find an article on the Vernon Morning Star site about the sale of Royal York to N&T. Not sure if I'm allowed to link to it from this Castanet forum?

N&T built "BX Crossing" which is a 3-storey 85-unit rental-only apartment building on the old Kal Tire property on 48th Avenue, behind the Village Green.

According to their website http://bxcrossing.ca/

"N&T Properties Ltd is family owned and operated real estate company which constructs, manages and owns properties throughout Canada."

"BX Crossing is the first major rental-only professional managed apartment building to be constructed in the North Okanagan in 25 years."

[dontrump]

You can find an article on the Vernon Morning Star site about the sale of Royal York to N&T. Not sure if I'm allowed to link to it from this Castanet forum?

N&T built "BX Crossing" which is a 3-storey 85-unit rental-only apartment building on the old Kal Tire property on 48th Avenue, behind the Village Green.

According to their website http://bxcrossing.ca/

"N&T Properties Ltd is family owned and operated real estate company which constructs, manages and owns properties throughout Canada."

"BX Crossing is the first major rental-only professional managed apartment building to be constructed in the North Okanagan in 25 years."

yes it all make sense now as Kal tire owned that property

[Hassel99]

they only did that as far as Kal tire buildings go and they have lots of them I don't figure them at all to be interested in a housing development but that was just an observation/opinion on my part

Not true, they built BX crossing on 48th ave last year. its a huge apparent building behind the village green hotel and a great social endeavor as they could have sold the condos but opted to provide affordable rental housing instead.

I am surprised to see people like the OP against more affordable housing. These are great people doing amazing things for the community and people like the OP are giving them a hard time because they want to golf?

Seems off and backwards to me. fighting this development will land you on the wrong side of social consciousness.

Its the wrong time to take a stand Against affordable housing imo

[Fancy]

If one buys a home next to a golf course because that's their hobby, I can see why the disappointment and frustration on losing the course.

[visimp]

As there has been no indication of the exact nature of the proposed residential development, the discussion with regards to the affordability of the eventual homes is mute.

At the same time, there is some substantial land within the golf course property that could be used for affordable housing if desired and the recreation greenspace of the golf course would stay intact for the North Okanagan community to enjoy.

The real issue here is the destruction of a lot of community greenspace and the tax liability that everyone in Armstrong will have to accept to accommodate such a large development in that area. The developer pays for their utilities on the property but we all pay for the upgrading of water and sewer facilities to support the development.

Here we have another out of town developer taking advantage of a community and then walking away without facing any of the ongoing consequences and expenses for their actions.

We do not have DCC (Development Cost Charges) charges like other communities but a VCC (Voluntary Cost Charge) charge which is currently under review by the City Council. However, as has happened in the past, the developer can avoid paying VCC cash to the city by donating unusable land on the property as 'parkland'. This mean the taxpayers again pick up the tab for the ongoing high maintenance costs for this 'parkland'.

[Troutslayer]

*removed*

[Fancy]

Not the point now was it. I know folks who live next to golf courses and they like the fact they are that close - doesn't matter if there are others around that are superior and more challenging.

[dontrump]

As there has been no indication of the exact nature of the proposed residential development, the discussion with regards to the affordability of the eventual homes is mute.

At the same time, there is some substantial land within the golf course property that could be used for affordable housing if desired and the recreation greenspace of the golf course would stay intact for the North Okanagan community to enjoy.

The real issue here is the destruction of a lot of community greenspace and the tax liability that everyone in Armstrong will have to accept to accommodate such a large development in that area. The developer pays for their utilities on the property but we all pay for the upgrading of water and sewer facilities to support the development.

Here we have another out of town developer taking advantage of a community and then walking away without facing any of the ongoing consequences and expenses for their actions.

We do not have DCC (Development Cost Charges) charges like other communities but a VCC (Voluntary Cost Charge) charge which is currently under review by the City Council. However, as has happened in the past, the developer can avoid paying VCC cash to the city by donating unusable land on the property as 'parkland'. This mean the taxpayers again pick up the tab for the ongoing high maintenance costs for this 'parkland'.

boy talk about misinformation??? u sure get it here!! The family that owns the course have been trying to sell it for a few years and have been unsuccesfull ;They are losing money and no longer want to run the course at a lose;; Kal tires real estate development company is purchasing the property for future use; the course will run for all of 2019 and apparently Kal tires real estate company may or may not continue to run it as a golf course for the next few years ;; time will tell

[common_sense_guy]

To the people that want to fight this. Boo hoo it's private land. people in Canada have some right left to do what they want on their own land. Get over it. And one person talking about this as if it's community Green Space. Yes it's green but it's not the communities space.