A 3-D architectural rendering of a planned $160 million Port Picton development will soon be available for public viewing. The Port Picton Homes project on Picton Bay promises to transform the harbour.

Port Picton Homes’ David Cleave notes the project is huge  — but when compared to other Lake Ontario communities lucky enough to enjoy a harbour, the Port Picton development project is just long overdue.

“It’s an ambitious project and it’s very high value at $160 million — but it’s being done in phases that will be sales driven,” Mr. Cleave told the Gazette. “Prince Edward County is certainly in need of housing from A to Z and Port Picton Homes offers options at all points on the spectrum.”

Port Picton Homes is the company behind the new West Meadows, Pineridge and Curtis Street subdivisions as well as Macaulay Village and Rosemary Lane. A new project, Talbot on the Trail, is underway, and Cold Creek is in the planning stages.

“Port Picton will move our harbour to where it should be,” Mr. Cleave said, pointing to Cobourg, where water view condominiums have transformed a quiet harbourfront into a hub of activity.

“This should be a game changer,” he said. “We will start to see the kind of boat traffic attracted to Gananoque, Kingston and the Toronto Islands. With proper docking, accommodations and restaurants, Picton Harbour will become a Lake Ontario destination.”

Port Picton occupies 24 waterfront acres just outside the town limits on the Glenora stretch of the Loyalist Parkway. Its 1800 feet of shoreline will connect to Picton Harbour via a 12-foot-wide, kilometre-long boardwalk. Detached family homes will line the water’s edge. The rest of the property will house about two dozen semi-detached homes and townhouses, and two five-story condo buildings. Altogether, there are about 300 new homes planned.

The property is heavily treed; Port Picton Homes has undertaken an arborist study and inventory of nearly 450 trees. It plans to keep as many as possible, with about 250 mature trees studded throughout the property. Plans have been made with special care to protect the trees.

“When you look at the laneway network, we’ve had them sweep and move to avoid coming too close to many of the mature maple, black walnut and butternuts that are on the property,” said Mr. Cleave.

“We are very aware of the trees that are here and standing and that’s why a laneway works. We cut down on the width of the roadway which means we are not disturbing neighbouring trees to build.”

The main entrance, off the Glenora Parkway, takes visitors to the restored and renovated Claramount building. At the center of the project, it will offer a hotel, fine dining, extensive terraces, and a gym. Most of its many amenities will be open to the public. The pool and gym, however, are for residents only.

“The key is that this is not a gated or closed community,” Cleave explained. “The boardwalk at the waterfront will be open to the public, like the parklands. We are inviting people to share this property as a community for many activities, whether it’s walking or biking, dining, or enjoying a drink on the terrace.”

Port Picton homes will have a draft planning submission at Council by the end of the month with approval expected during the summer.

Construction could start this fall.

“These are lofty goals but we have a great relationship with the municipality and have shown the discipline we need in our other projects — we can meet these timelines,” said Mr. Cleave.

A family operation, David Cleave’s daughters, Elyse and Kathryn, and wife, Nancy, are excited about what Port Picton will mean to both Picton and Prince Edward County.

“The Picton Harbour area is a hidden jewel and people coming into Picton are not even aware this harbour area is even down here,” Kathryn Cleave said. “The boardwalk and public parklands will both draw people from Main street, and connect the harbour back to Main Street.”

For more information, see Port Picton.