It’s been a long, dry road.

Redtail is a winery and vineyard on 30 acres off Loyalist Parkway in Hillier. From the beginning, though, owners Blocknote Canada envisioned a larger agri-tourist compound. 

It first sought rezoning and an Official Plan Amendment for a hotel and spa in 2022, but the plans were put on hold until an adequate water source could be identified. 

But early in the process, the idea of a spa sounded alarm bells for nearby residents, who reported wells in the area run dry in the summer. That’s not great news for a spa. The complete operation will use 64,000 litres of water per day. 

Initial pump tests by the Greer Galloway Group in 2019 found water levels well below the demand. 

They also found that sodium at six times the recommended limit and unsafe levels of coliform and turbidity. 

Only extensive hydrogeological studies finally identified a spot for a well that met water quantity and quality requirements. Harden Environmental Studies conducted several rounds of drilling in 2023 and finally located a well with a water supply for the entire property. Two backup wells are also on hand. 

The winery’s owners came back to planning last week for a Statutory Public Meeting, seeking to remove the hold and move forward with plans for 38 villas and a total of 134 hotel rooms, a pool, tennis and basketball courts, and a Nordic spa. 

A “Nordic”-style spa has a “mix of indoor and outdoor water features,” planner Adam Layton said. It will be the second of its kind in Prince Edward County, after Wander debuted a winter spa earlier this year. 

A woodland and watercourse are within the property lines, but there are no plans to build near them. ”We have identified the limits of the woodlands and the limits of the watercourse. We are not touching them at all,” Mr. Layton noted. 

The watercourse is regulated by Quinte Conservation Authority, and a permit is required to build within 30 metres of it. The site plan includes a ten metre buffer from the woodland and a permitted, 15 metre buffer from the watercourse. 

Residents were concerned about traffic safety and light pollution in this quiet, rural part of the County. These concerns will be taken back to the developer.

Hillier Councillor Chris Braney lauded the vision and undertaking of the developer. “By all accounts this looks like an incredible opportunity for agri-tourism for Hillier and Prince Edward County,” he said. 

“I’ve had really good feedback from neighbours around communication.”

The application comes back to the Planning and Development Committee for a final decision.