Ottawa takes ClubLink to court to stop Kanata Lakes Golf and Country Club development

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

The City of Ottawa has filed a formal application to shut down plans for new development at the Kanata Lakes Golf and Country Club.

Late Friday night, the city filed paperwork to bring the case to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, in hopes that a ruling will force ClubLink to withdraw its building application or give the land to the city for free.

“Today marks a major milestone in our collective effort to stop ClubLink from pursuing development of the Kanata Golf and Country Club,” area councillor Jenna Sudds said in a statement.

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On Oct. 8, the city received planning applications from Bousfields Inc., on behalf of ClubLink Corporation ULC, to develop the lands at 7000 Campeau Dr. into a residential subdivision that includes a mix of housing types, parks, stormwater management ponds, open spaces, landscape buffers and roadways in Kanata North.

Currently, the site is home to, arguably, Canada’s most famous golf club – an 18-hole golf course, two-storey clubhouse and a large surface parking lot on the southwest portion of the land.

The proposed development would turn the area into 1,502 residential units with 3,699 associated parking spaces, three new parks, five new stormwater management ponds, a series of new internal streets and other open space blocks, as well as landscaped buffers throughout the property.

All existing abutting residential properties are proposed to be separated from the proposed development block by either a park, stormwater management pond, an open space or a landscaped buffer. Road connections are proposed to Beaverbrook Road, Campeau Drive, Knudson Drive and Weslock Way.

The city is asking the court to order ClubLink must either withdraw its applications under the Planning Act or offer to give the golf course lands to the city at no cost.  The city is seeking an expedited hearing of the application.

“This is the start of a legal process that we expect will be vigorously defended by ClubLink,” Sudds said.

ClubLink first announced its plan last December and under the Planning Act, the city must host statutory planning meetings to hear from the public on the proposed applications. The first two meetings have been scheduled for Nov. 25 and January 20, 2020 from 7 to 9 pm at the John Mlacak Centre, located at 2500 Campeau Drive.

“I share everyone’s frustration that we must deal with this application that has a total disregard for our community and legal agreements, Councillor Sudds wrote in a statement on Friday. “However, these meetings are our opportunity to ensure that city staff and the applicant hear from our community directly and that your comments are included in a report sent to my council colleagues and the applicant.”

Sudds also hosted a public meeting about the legal action on Oct. 28.

The city’s position is that ClubLink’s applications under the Planning Act serve as notice that it desires to discontinue the operation of the golf course.         \

“Under the 40 per cent agreement, ClubLink is obliged to offer to convey the lands to the city at no cost,” Sudds said.  “From a planning perspective, tremendous resources are being dedicated to this file ensuring that the best minds and most experienced staff are working on this.”

The city has asked the court for a hearing date by December 13.

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