Town Council approves Interim Control By-law to restrict Glen Abbey redevelopment for one year

Tue, 02 Feb 2016

Council voted unanimously last night to pass an Interim Control By-law (ICB) to restrict the use of the Glen Abbey Golf Course to its existing uses for a period of one year. The ICB will allow sufficient time for the town to complete key planning studies including:

• an Urban Structure review;
• a Land Use Economic and Impact Analysis study; and
• the Cultural Heritage Landscapes assessment of the Glen Abbey Golf Course.

“Provincial legislation is very clear that growth in local municipalities must be aligned with provincial planning objectives,” Mayor Rob Burton said. “Any project of a significant size and scope which could alter Oakville’s existing planned approach in our Livable Oakville Official Plan needs careful study and analysis.”

“Council’s decision last night provides town staff with the time and resources to complete the required studies, and will provide Council with the information and analysis it will need to make an informed decision,” Burton added.

In the meeting, Mark H. Simeoni, director, Planning Services department, presented the town’s recommendations to undertake town-wide planning studies and an ICB for Glen Abbey Golf Course, and responded to multiple questions from Council on the issue. Council also heard from members of the public and a representative of the owners of Glen Abbey Golf Course before making its decision. In addition to adopting the Interim Control By-law, Council agreed to:

• Initiate a town-wide Urban Structure review as part of the current Livable Oakville five-year review process to consider the proposed Glen Abbey Golf Course redevelopment;
• Initiate a Land Use and Economic Impact Analysis study of the golf course, to examine its existing function and its planned function as a destination golf course experience and the impact of  the proposed redevelopment;
• Allocate $300,000 to undertake the Urban Structure review and the Land Use and Economic Impact Analysis study;
• Hire Macaulay Shiomi Howson Ltd. as the lead consultant to undertake the Urban Structure Review; and
• Ensure the Glen Abbey Golf Course be given the highest priority in determining its cultural heritage landscape significance as part of  Phase Two of the Cultural Heritage Landscapes Strategy Implementation study.

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 town’s 2009 Livable Oakville Official Plan (Livable Oakville) sets out policies on how Oakville plans to grow and accommodate new residents and jobs into communities. Livable Oakville includes six growth areas for intensification and urban development: Midtown Oakville, Uptown Core, Palermo Village, Kerr Village, Bronte Village, and Downtown Oakville. Currently, redevelopment of the Glen Abbey site is not contemplated.

During a pre-consultation meeting, held on November 18, 2015, ClubLink Corporation declared its interest in redeveloping the Glen Abbey Golf Course property including 3,000-3,200 residential units, approximately 70,000-90,000 square feet of new office and 70,000-80,000 square feet of retail space.

Review the February 1, 2016 Council agenda and staff report.