PEI·NewPlans for a major housing development in Cavendish received overwhelming support during a public meeting Thursday night in the Resort Municipality.42 new homes could be built as part of condominium community at Eagles Glenn golf course Wayne Thibodeau · CBC News · Posted: Sep 19, 2025 10:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 30 minutes agoDon McDougall, the developer behind the Mill River Resort, wants to turn 30 acres of land at the Eagles Glenn golf course into a year-round condominium community. (Ken Linton/CBC)Plans for a major housing development in Cavendish received overwhelming support during a public meeting Thursday night in the Resort Municipality.Don McDougall, the developer behind the Mill River Resort, wants to turn 30 acres of land at the Eagles Glenn golf course into a year-round condominium community with 42 homes.McDougall purchased the Cavendish golf course in 2023.”We are encouraged by the developments — really, if you take from Kensington to Rustico, and look at all the single family [homes], many of them very high end … all of these homes indicate to us that there is a momentum toward single-family, year-round residences in a resort-type atmosphere,” McDougall told CBC News.”Lord knows, there’s lots of amenities between Kensington and Rustico, so we think we’re in a good place and at the right time.” The plan is to build 42 homes on 30 acres of land at Eagles Glenn golf course in Cavendish. (Sable/ARC)McDougall, who is credited with bringing the Toronto Blue Jays to Canada during his time as president of Labatt Brewing Company, purchased the Mill River golf course in 2017. Part of the redevelopment of that resort and golf course included the construction of 26 homes on the resort’s property. Now, he wants to do the same — but on a larger scale — at the Eagles Glenn golf course. ‘Becoming a year-round destination’Matthew Jelley, who owns theme parks and a campground next to the proposed development, called it an exciting opportunity for the community.”I think any of those developments help further the goal of becoming a year-round destination,” said Jelley.”Certainly, the more people that live in the community, the more services they require.” McDougall says the project, along with others on the North Shore, could help keep services open year-round. (Sable/ARC)Sandi Lowther, a resident and business owner in the Resort Municipality, said she is thrilled with the plans.”By having increased residence in the area or short-term rentals in the area year-round, during the winter months, [it] will attract other services that are important for residents… such as year-round convenience [stores], or year-round smaller grocery stores, year-round service station, year-round restaurants,” said Lowther.”It’s a first step in hopefully turning the destination into a full year-round operation.”McDougall said he believes his development, along with others on the North Shore, will help ensure more services are available throughout the year.”We think the era of it shutting down over the winter months is coming to an end anyway. We hope that we’re accelerating that.”‘It’s our life blood’Resort Municipality Mayor Lee Brammer said when he took office as mayor, his goals were to increase infrastructure and encourage a greater diversity of housing. He said development is key to the community’s future.”It’s very important. It’s our life blood,” said Brammer.”We’re well recognized for tourism. People from all over the world visit us and share their holiday time with us and they’re always looking for new product and for other experiences while they’re here. We’re open for business.” Resort Municipality Mayor Lee Brammer says boosting infrastructure and housing diversity has been a key priority during his time in office. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC)Prices for the new homes have not yet been set, but McDougall expects they will be in the $550,000 to $600,000 range.People interested in purchasing the home will have to buy a golf membership to ensure there’s no conflict between the new development and the golf course.’Move as quickly as we can’McDougall said if he gets approval, he’d like to start construction this fall with the first homes hitting the market next spring.The Resort Municipality says public consultation will continue throughout September. After that, it will go to the planning board for a recommendation, with council making the final decision.The Cavendish Tourist Mart sits closed for the off-season. McDougall believes that era is ending. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC)People at Thursday night’s meeting encouraged the Resort Municipality to take a page out of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s playbook and speed up the approval process, so this development can proceed as quickly as possible.Brammer said he got the message.”I know you heard tonight in the meeting there were a few people that want us to move as quickly as we can,” he said. “And we will do that.”ABOUT THE AUTHORWayne Thibodeau is a video journalist with CBC Prince Edward Island. He has spent the last two decades working in various newsroom roles. In addition to being a multi-platform journalist, Wayne can be heard reading the news on The World This Hour, anchoring the breaking news desk on CBC News Network, hosting Island Morning and Mainstreet and reporting for CBC News: Compass. You can reach Wayne at Wayne.Thibodeau@cbc.caFollow @JWayneCBC on X
Cavendish residents excited over plans for major housing development
