Glen Abbey Redevelopment Proposal FAQs

2005 – Provincial policy statement introduces Cultural Heritage Landscape

2009 – Livable Oakville policy direction

2011 (Oct) – Bronte Heritage Review recommends an inventory 2012 (Feb) – Heritage Work Plan includes a follow-up from Bronte 2013 – Cultural Heritage Landscape Strategy initiated

2014 (Jan) – Council gave direction to undertake Cultural Heritage Landscape Study

• A cultural heritage landscape is “a defined geographical area that may have been modified by human activity and is identified as having cultural heritage value or interest by a community” (Provincial Policy Statement 2014). Although a landscape may include significant buildings and structures, the purpose of recognizing landscapes is to conserve heritage values that are more than bricks and mortar.
• Glen Abbey’s heritage designation is based on the cultural heritage value and interest of the property, which has been evaluated by the town through its Cultural Heritage Landscapes Strategy.

• Designation is an important step towards conserving the cultural heritage value of the Glen Abbey property, but another important aspect of heritage conservation is conserving the use of the designated landscape.
• The town will be seeking to work with ClubLink and other stakeholders to develop a conservation plan for the continued use of the Glen Abbey golf course.  The plan will allow the course to continue as a venue for tournament and recreational play, while conserving its significant cultural heritage value and interest.

• Age is not the determining factor in cultural heritage protection. Buildings or landscape can be relatively new and still cultural and historically important; the 50-year old “new” Toronto city hall is a perfect example.
• Glen Abbey was found to demonstrate all three types of key attributes under the Ontario Heritage Act: design, historical and contextual value.
• In the case of Glen Abbey, its precedent-setting design, status as the first Jack Nicolaus designed course, and historic importance as the setting of 29 Canadian Opens contributed to its recognition as a cultural heritage landscape.
• To learn more about Glen Abbey’s heritage attributes, read the report that went to Council.

• The application by ClubLink and the heritage designation are two separate matters. Town Council needed to first understand the heritage aspects of the Glen Abbey property, and staff are currently assessing their impact on the application.
• Council will consider the staff recommendation and then make a decision on the ClubLink development application at the Planning and Development Council meeting on September 26, 2017.
• Members of the public may email written comments on the development application or register as a delegate to speak at the meeting by emailing townclerk@oakville.ca prior to September 26, 2017.

Provincial legislation states that growth in local municipalities must be aligned with provincial planning objectives.

Section 38 of the Planning Act (Ont.) permits a municipality to pass an ICB for up to a year (with the right to extend the by-law for a further year) in order to complete a review or study of land use policies in the municipality.

The owner of the lands covered by the ICB may appeal it to the OMB.

Under the provisions of the Interim Control By-law, the owners are restricted to using their land or buildings for only those uses that lawfully existed on the date of the passage of the by-law, namely February 1, 2016. Council approved a one year extension of the town's ICB. It is now set to expire on January 31, 2018.

Yes. The ICB does not prevent ClubLink from applying to develop its lands or holding public meetings regarding its proposed development. The ICB limits the use of the developer’s lands to its current lawful uses.

On May 10, 2017, the OMB issued its decision upholding the town’s Interim Control By-law (ICB) and its one year extension to January 31, 2018, concluding that the ICB was appropriate and necessary. The Board’s decision noted that the town’s ICB was based on a legitimate planning rationale, was enacted in good faith, and was in conformity with the Region of Halton Official Plan and the Provincial Growth Plan.

Sixteen Mile Creek is designated as “Natural Area”.

The golf course table lands are designated as Private Open Space. Within the Private Open Space designation, additional uses which are related to the golf course are also permitted including such things as:

• Hotel/conference centre with accessory facilities
• Banquet and dining facilities
• Limited retail, administrative offices

No. Unlike Saw-Whet Golf Course, Glen Abbey Golf Course has never been identified in the town’s Official Plan as having future growth potential. Glen Abbey plays a different role in the cultural, economic and urban structure of the community and that is why the town put in place an ICB so that further studies can take place to help us understand its role in the community before any proposed changes can be considered.

The RayDor estate house on the site is currently designated as a heritage building

On August 21, 2017, Council voted in favour to proceed with a Notice of Intention to Designate the Glen Abbey property as a significant cultural heritage landscape under s. 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. For details, visit our Cultural Heritage Landscape Strategy page and read the news release.

On November 10, ClubLink submitted a proposal to redevelop the 92.7 hectare Glen Abbey Golf Course property including 3,200 residential units, and 121,000 square feet of new office and retail space. The application, as submitted, would require an Official Plan Amendment and a Zoning By-law Amendment and a draft Plan of Subdivision.

The Ontario Municipal Board declared the Glen Abbey development application complete as of June 7, 2017.

Under the Planning Act, the town now has 120 days to consider and decide on the merits of the application for rezoning, and 180 days to consider and decide on the merits of the application for an official plan amendment to permit the complete redevelopment of the Golf Course. If the town does not make a decision within this timeframe, ClubLink would be in a position to appeal its applications directly to the OMB for decision.

A special meeting of Planning and Development Council is scheduled for September 26, 2017, to consider the Glen Abbey development applications. Visit the development application page to learn more about ClubLink's application.

All property owners have a right to make applications for amendments to the town’s official plan and zoning by-laws and to file appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board if the town doesn’t approve these applications. The Ontario Municipal Board has an obligation to consider these applications on their merits.

The town’s growth requirements are actually determined by the Province of Ontario. The province forecasts growth through its Growth Plan which allocates a certain number of people to our region. Oakville, as part of Halton Region, is required to accommodate a certain portion of the growth. This forecasted growth is neither a minimum nor a cap on growth.

The town then sets out how Oakville plans to grow and accommodate new residents and jobs into communities in our Livable Oakville Official Plan. Livable Oakville includes six growth areas for intensification and urban development: Midtown Oakville, Uptown Core, Palermo Village, Kerr Village, Bronte Village, and Downtown Oakville.

Redevelopment of the Glen Abbey site was not contemplated in the town’s Livable Oakville Official Plan which is one of the reasons the town put in place an ICB to study what impact this potential development would have on the community.