A large development planned for Ile des Chenes is now one step closer to obtaining the necessary approvals from Ritchot Council. Terracon Development is developing land on the south end of the community. Phase one of Oak River Meadow was approved back in 2022 and is currently under construction. Council is now considering an application for phase two. This phase could see 351 lots to the south of phase one, west of Arnould Road, east of Highway 59, and north of the Seine River Diversion. Nearby RV park asking for buffer and more The owners of Arrowhead RV Park, located just south of the proposed phase two, have expressed concern with this project. At a public hearing in May, Owner Lise Bale asked Council to require a list of fair and reasonable measures within the development agreement so that both land uses can coexist successfully. Those measures included: A meaningful landscaped public reserve transition buffer. Bale says they proposed 50 feet in width with dense planting and privacy fencing, or relocation of a retention pond as a natural buffer extending the length of their property. Nuisance easements to protect normal RV park operations. A comprehensive safety and operations management plan. Formal recognition of Arrowhead RV Park as an established tourism asset. Following the public hearing, Ritchot Council opted to hold off on making a decision. Mayor Chris Ewen said the municipality would go back to both the developer and the Arrowhead RV Park owners and have them all meet to see how they can make this work. Ewen said Council would make its decision at its June 17th meeting. Council holds off on making decision At the June 17th meeting, Council decided against making its decision. Deputy Mayor Shane Pelletier noted that the developer had submitted a new plan, including a buffer. However, he said this new plan had not yet been submitted to the province, and so Council felt it necessary to hold off on making a decision. Related Stories: Ritchot Council pauses decision on large housing development proposal at Ile des Chenes Ritchot Council defers decision on large Ile des Chenes development Council has now given second reading to a revised plan. Ewen says the developer has adjusted the subdivision plan to incorporate a number of significant changes, including: increasing the buffer between the development and Arrowhead RV Park from the minimum required 0 feet to approximately 40 feet, creating a densely forested buffer area to provide additional screening, requiring 6-foot privacy fences on residential properties backing onto the RV park, limiting the majority of lots adjacent to the RV park to bungalow-style homes, removing proposed multi-family residential development from the land backing onto the RV Park, including a pathway connection to provide convenient access between the neighbourhood and the RV park for residents and guests, a full drainage plan from Terracon to improve drainage from the current situation, and a worksite safety plan. Ewen says stretching the buffer to 40 feet and requiring a 6-foot privacy fence eliminates a lot of the concerns of Arrowhead RV Park. "That was a big win for Arrowhead for sure," notes Ewen. Arrowhead owners appreciate being heard "We'd like to thank Council for taking the time to listen to our concerns throughout the process," notes Bale, owner of the RV park. "We're cautiously optimistic about the decision that they made." Bale says they appreciate Council's direction that Arrowhead RV Park be included in the process of developing the development agreement. "We're hopeful that this will involve meaningful negotiations between the municipality, the developer, and Arrowhead RV Park, to establish practical and enforceable protections that work for everyone," she adds. However, Bale says they still have concerns. She notes their well is part of a semi-public water system that serves guests at Arrowhead. Bale says that although the 40-foot buffer is important, it still does not bring the development outside our province's recommended 100-foot well protection radius. "That remains one of the important matters we hope to discuss during the development agreement negotiations, together with appropriate safeguards to protect our water supply over the long-term," adds Bale. She notes ultimately, they want to make sure that both future residents and the Arrowhead RV Park are protected. "We appreciate that Council listened and recognized the need for stronger protections," she says. "It's an important step forward, a decision's been made, but the real success of the project will depend on what's achieved through the development agreement." Mayor's opinion different from the rest of Council According to Ewen, though the vote by Council was unanimous, during the debate, he shared a different view from the rest of Council. "I personally didn't think we needed much of a buffer zone," admits Ewen. "The developer had already been working with the business, and they knew they were coming. So I was fine with almost zero, and then the rest of Council wanted to see between a 30- and 40-foot buffer." Ewen says Council is now just awaiting some legalities before giving third reading. The Mayor says he is excited to see this finally happen. "Everyone's going to be satisfied, not just Arrowhead RV but the residents in the area are going to get to see a full buildout of essentially a whole new community inside their community, and it's going to bring more business, more opportunities and more recreation things in Ile des Chenes," says Ewen. "So we're all very excited for it."