Willows resident believes Nordic spa development in neighbourhood felt rushed

Neal Renwick said he and his neighbours moved to The Willows community for its peace and quiet.

But with news of a Nordic spa possibly soon to come to the neighbourhood, he believes it could ruin the tranquility of the area.

“I don’t see how a hotel in our neighbourhood is going to serve the needs of any of the residents. If we have visitors from out of the city that need a hotel room, they’re right around the corner in Stonebridge,” Renwick said.

The Nordic spa would be run by Scandvik Hotels,  a “locally formed group that has 100-plus years of leadership” in the hospitality, construction and hotel industries. The project is being facilitated by Dream Development, which is handling the zoning for the project, according to Scandvik president Travis Batting.

“It’s been interesting to follow the feedback from the general public on the residents,” Batting said Wednesday. “We’re working with Dream to work with The Willows residents on any issues that they might have.

“From what it sounds like in talking to the councillors, it’s not just specific on our property, but it’s the overall development of what Dream’s vision is.”

In Renwick’s eyes, the whole process has felt rushed by the City of Saskatoon.

“We never heard anything about it, then in December (city officials) dropped a public information meeting on the residents of The Willows, right before Christmas,” he said. “After some pushback from the community, they agreed to push that back right into January.”

The public engagement session took place Jan. 26, and included information and a question-and-answer period. Renwick said he attended, and a representative from Dream Development was in attendance.

Batting added the concept was unveiled for the Nordic spa at the January session, and his company wanted the public to “understand our concept” with the project and its details.

At the same time, the one issue Renwick said he continues to grapple with is the lack of feedback to residents from the city.

“Everything that we’ve been told is that, ‘This is just ongoing consultation,’ and they’re just looking into this amendment,” he said before explaining he first saw the news in the media of the Nordic spa.

“That’s really contrary to what the city is telling the residents.”

In an emailed statement to 650 CKOM, the city’s director of planning and development, Lesley Anderson, explained the project is proposed, and is considered by the city to “be conceptual only at this time, and has not been approved.”

“The proposal for this development is part of a package of proposed amendments by Dream Development for the Willows Neighbourhood Concept Plan. At this time, public engagement is underway related to the amendments, and would then need to proceed to a decision of City Council,” the statement reads.

“When an applicant puts forward a proposal, they are, of course, free to share it publicly at their own risk. However, this does not reflect City approval and does not bind the City to a future approval.”

Anderson continued to say city administration will continue with public engagement on the overall package of amendments by Dream Development in order to “provide City Council with the appropriate recommendation in due course.”

Renwick said those in The Willows pay “some of the highest taxes in the city,” along with additional fees for snow removal, street cleaning and other amenities.

He sent a letter to the city Monday night, and by Tuesday afternoon hadn’t received a response to his concerns.

Renwick said most people living in the area have paid top dollar for what they have. He explained there are worries from him and other residents that the obstruction of views within the area’s existing greenspace and the golf course will decrease the property values.

“Most people pay a premium for what they have (living in the area) … Commercial space, that’s all available not too far away in Stonebridge,” he said.