Village negotiations with Related Ross continue but the onus is now on the council to take the necessary vote. A vote to approve still gives the village the power to shape the final design of the development. The developer must still get the approval of the village planning board and a final vote from the council before construction can begin. It’s a legitimate control the village has in working with Related Ross that gives residents the final say on the project.

Wellington has taken a long time on the K-Park pitch

In an ideal world, the steps that led to the development of K-Park would have happened in a very different way. The community, knowing the potential value of the parcel, would have come together through a series of charrettes, community meetings and town halls to discuss what they wanted to see on the site and, more importantly, develop a realistic strategy to achieve it. Once consensus was reached, the village would have put out a request for proposals, the process that would hopefully attract the right developer with the right proposal.

Instead, the village finds itself in the awkward position of pushing for a development plan but still lacking a community consensus for the shift. Some want to start the process over, urging the council to scrap the plan in front of them by issuing a new request for proposals. Others want community meetings to discuss what should be on the site – how much and what kind of housing, what kind of entertainment venues, green spaces, parking, bike lanes – legitimate questions raised late in the process.