Owner files for approval to demolish Glen Abbey golf course

ClubLink, the property owner of the Glen Abbey golf course in Oakville, has formally filed for approval to demolish it despite the Town of Oakville voting in favour of designating the entire Glen Abbey property a heritage site in August.

In a statement released on Monday, ClubLink said it disagrees “in the strongest possible terms with the heritage designation,” but will not appeal it to the Conservation Review Board as it feels the board’s recommendations will not be binding on the town.

Further, ClubLink contends the description of the heritage attributes of the land are far too broad and would require it to operate the property as a golf course in its current form in perpetuity — something it strongly objects to.

“The town simply cannot use the Heritage Act to mandate land use,” said ClubLink CEO Rai Sahi. “Even the Town of Oakville’s own planning director has acknowledged that the town cannot force ClubLink to continue to operate the golf course.”

ClubLink said it will therefore proceed with an application to demolish the golf course and all other buildings on the land.

A few structures that are to be retained as part of their redevelopment proposal will remain. These include RayDor Estate House currently leased to Gold Canada and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum.

The stables will also remain on site and are proposed to form part of a “Village Market” which “will serve the broader community as part of ClubLink’s redevelopment proposal for the lands.”

In addition, ClubLink said removing the golf course from the Sixteen Mile Creek valley will allow a portion of the land to be re-naturalized and open for public use as a condition of approval of their redevelopment proposal. Currently, only ClubLink members and paying customers at the golf course are allowed on these grounds.

“This is an incredible opportunity and an enormous public benefit for the people of Oakville and surrounding regions,” Sahi said. “Oakville Council should not miss this opportunity to take ownership of these lands for the public benefit.”


Related stories:

Oakville city council votes unanimously to designate Glen Abbey a heritage site
Heritage status doesn’t mean Glen Abbey can’t be built over: expert


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