Page 13 - GBC English Fall 2019

McCALL LAKE GOLF COURSE, CALGARY, AB
Golf course re-development plans are happening in other major markets across the country, and periodically it comes with very public backlash. Often the public outcries are heard, but do not have an impact on the process. However, that was not the case in Calgary, AB when in July 2014 city of cials debated the decision to close the municipally owned McCall Lake Golf Course, as a means of saving money and using the proceeds to upgrade other public golf courses.
An earlier concept plan involved the potential to sell a portion of the land to commercial and industrial builders and use the balance to create new public open spaces. The key distinction is that the Calgary course (unlike the GTA courses that are under threat of redevelop- ment) was publicly owned. The decision not to develop the land was partly to do with public feed- back and access but also due to a detailed feasibility assessment that showed signi cant development restrictions limiting the potential for the site.11
In late June 2019, the newly redesigned McCall Lake Golf Courseof ciallyopenedfor18-hole play, after undergoing $6.7 million in renovations over the past year, including upgrades to greens, tees and fairways, the relocation of traps and hazards and the addition of new forward tees.12 The City of Calgary said the course has been revitalized to improve the player experience and make it more acces- sible to a wide range of golfers.
GLEN ABBEY GOLF CLUB, OAKVILLE, ON
One of the most high pro le Cana- dian golf course redevelopment properties gaining media attention and public scrutiny involves Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, ON.
The Oakville Beaver has reported that the Town of Oakville has spent almost $9 million on consultantsandlawyersinits ght to preserve the Glen Abbey Golf Club, according to a Freedom of Information Act request led by a local resident.13 The town has been engaged in litigation with Glen Abbey Golf Club owner ClubLink since the organization announced plans to build 3,222 residential units at the site, includ- ing nine apartment buildings between nine and 12 storeys. Club- Link also wants to build 121,000 square feet of new of ce and retail space at the site. Town staff have argued that amount of develop- ment is not permitted or appropri- ate for the site and would amount to an unplanned growth area.
To date, there have been a couple hearings before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. One hearing, which occurred in July 2018, focused on whether ClubLink had the right to apply to demolish the golf course given the property is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
A second hearing, which took place in October 2018, involved a challenge by ClubLink to the conservation plan and related bylaws, which the Town of Oakville put in place to ensure that the Glen Abbey Golf Course was main- tained to a standard capable of hosting the Canadian Open even if the golf business had been closed.
The Honourable Justice Edward Morgan ruled against the town following both hearings. The town has appealed these decisions to the Ontario Court of Appeal. These appeals were heard on May 21 and 23, 2019 and the decisions are expected to be released during the month of September, 2019.
ClubLink’s appeal of council’s rejection of their development proposal is scheduled to be heard
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to any type of change, but this is where understanding the community and municipal needs becomes incredibly important.
Providing publicly accessible spaces, retail/commercial zones, low income housing, townhouses for empty-nesters, environmentally protected areas etc., can be that certain something that the commu- nity is longing for, and something the municipality also needs. Through community engagement, you can ascertain what that need may look like for the community, decide what your development can provide and nd supporters within the community that can become your evangelists.
A successful development has to positively impact the surround- ing community. We felt that using a PR company may be the best way to successfully engage with the community, although that can depend on the scale of develop- ment and surrounding community.