The famous Glen Abbey golf course has got the heritage status from the town council and has gained some protection from being redeveloped into a housing complex. The property located in the town of Oakville had already hosted the Canadian Open 29 times and is the scheduled venue for next year.
How it Happened: A Look
ClubLink, owner of Glen Abbey wants to convert the golf course into a combination of 3,200 houses along with offices and retail spaces. But the plan was met with strong opposition from the residents who want it to be preserved. The town council voted strongly in favor of the proposal awarding the heritage designation following the Ontario Heritage Act.
Glen Abbey was designed by golf star Jack Nicklaus 40 years back and had been the venue for top golf championships. The property also houses the Golf Canada office, the Canadian Golf Museum, and Hall of Fame.
Mayor Rob Burton was present in the crowded council chamber where the voting was held. He said that he was aware of the concerns of the residents regarding Glen Abbey who is looking forward to keeping it untouched. Canadian authorities are trying to protect not only national heritage places, but they also want to improve gambling activities and make them more credible, among which we can mark out CasinoValley.ca web advisor. Here you can choose a suitable online casino according to your taste. People always related Glen Abbey with Oakville and vice versa and he sees the importance in what the residents had to say. He also expressed that heritage held a strong meaning for them and his town was leading the way in conserving its heritage assets.
What Can ClubLink Do?
ClubLink has got 30 days to launch an appeal against the heritage status to the Conservation Review Board. Their appeal will be heard on 26 September by the Oakville town council and there can be several outcomes.
Depending on the regulations set by the town council, the development plan can still go forward even if ClubLink’s appeal doesn’t stand out. Toronto’s heritage planning consultant Paul Dilse says that the council can be lenient towards the appeal and may allow the golf course and constructions stay side by side.
So, what are the other roadblocks?
The residents have made up the Save Glen Abbey Coalition to oppose ClubLink’s development plans. Fraser Damoff, spokesperson for the group said that commented that the golf course was a gem and an integral part of Oakville’s identity. The town had developed around Glen Abbey through the years and people associate the golf course with the town all the time. With other parts of Oakville being occupied by single homes, it was important for Damoff and others to take a step to preserve it.
Saving the Golf Course – Can it Happen?
The initiative to save the golf course got an impetus after the winner of Canadian Open, Jhonattan Vegas from Venezuela expressed that he wanted the club to stay active. He said that he will be one of the biggest voices in the movement and keep it going strong.
The golf championships are a source of earnings for the town through visitor spending and provide a good return on investment.