Hunters Pointe may be losing its golf course to a new residential development, which has residents of the community east of Highway 406 in Welland upset.

The 83.6-hectare golf course, accessed from Daimler Parkway, is in the process of being sold to a numbered Ontario company represented by The Biglieri Group. The owners of that company seek to build a nearly 1,200-unit mixed residential neighbourhood on the golf course lands.

In an email to The Tribune, Hunters Pointe resident Nolan Yearwood said hundreds of residents of the community were "blindsided" by the news when they received it a few weeks ago and have been opposing it since.

Yearwood said he feels the city is fast-tracking the rezoning process for the development to move forward.

City planning supervisor Rachelle Larocque said that's not so.

The proposed development hasn't yet reached city council, but there was a public meeting on April 12. During that meeting, Larocque said she, city manager of development approvals Grant Munday and a member of The Biglieri Group were there to answer questions.

She said about 150 to 200 residents showed up for the meeting.

Apart from lamenting the loss of the golf course, residents are worried about the impact it will have on their community. Members of the Highlands Residents Association at Hunters Pointe and the developer of that area sought out consultation.

The developer retained Gagnon Walker Domes Professional Planners, and the company worked with Dillon Consulting Ltd., Upper Canada Consultants and Turkstra Mazza Associates LLP to review the documents accompanying the proposed development.

The review, obtained by The Tribune, outlines a number of concerns, including a perceived lack of sufficient information and studies about issues such as species at risk and provincially significant wetlands, and the use of dated parameters for an environmental assessment. The review also questions whether such a development is in demand for that area and whether a lack of nearby schools and other amenities has been taken into consideration.

The review recommends Biglieri's client revise and resubmit the application with the updated documents. It also recommends that the city reject the application should the applicant not do that.

Larocque said the review has been taken into consideration as public comments and given the same due as other comments made.

The application can be viewed at welland.ca/ReportsStudies.asp under the heading Hunters Pointe Redevelopment Submission.

Lucchetta Homes, which has been developing the Hunters Pointe community, said in a statement that it "does not directly or indirectly have any involvement with the golf course." The golf course has always been a separate entity.

"It was a complete surprise for us to hear this news as well," the company said.

Sandy Billyard, owner of the golf course, said in a brief email statement that Hunters Pointe Golf Course is closed permanently and "will not reopen." He said any further information "can be obtained at the next council meeting where this subject will be discussed extensively."

The issue will be before council on May 1 in council chambers at 7 p.m. This is a statutory public hearing as required by the Planning Act.

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Efforts were made to reach The Biglieri Group and the prospective buyer, but no response was received.

Laura.Barton@niagaradailies.com

905-225-1652 | @LBartonTribune