Oakville Council considering further protection measures for the town’s cultural heritage landscapes and specifically for the Glen Abbey Golf Course property

Thu, 07 Dec 2017

On December 5, 2017, town staff presented to Planning and Development Council for public feedback the first of several upcoming initiatives to protect the cultural heritage value, interest and attributes of the Glen Abbey Golf Course. A proposed amendment to Zoning By-law 2014-014 would regulate the use of the Glen Abbey property, and the erection, location and use of buildings and structures on the property, in a manner that supports the conservation of this cultural heritage landscape. A recommendation report will be brought back to Planning and Development Council for decision on January 30, 2018.

“Numerous heritage experts have told Council that Glen Abbey Golf Course is a significant cultural heritage landscape. Earlier this year, Council took steps to protect this landscape under the Ontario Heritage Act,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “This proposed change to the zoning by-law for Glen Abbey Golf Course is just one more action the town is considering to ensure that this significant cultural heritage landscape retains its heritage value.”

Several additional matters to support the conservation of Glen Abbey as a cultural heritage landscape will be coming forward within the next few weeks.

Upcoming meetings include:

• A Planning and Development Council meeting will be held on December 12, 2017 to table a proposed Conservation Plan to conserve the Glen Abbey cultural heritage landscape, and related by-law, and an official plan amendment.
• A public open house will be held on January 10, 2018 to share information and get feedback on the proposed Conservation Plan and related by-laws, zoning and official plan amendments.
• A recommendation report on all items shared at the public open house will come back to Planning and Development Council for decision on January 30, 2018.
• Heritage Oakville will also review the proposed Conservation Plan and related by-laws, and the proposed zoning and official plan amendments at its meetings of December 19, 2017 and January 23, 2018 to provide its input to Council.

Two separate appeal processes are also underway related to decisions on Glen Abbey Golf Course made by Council earlier this year:

• Council voted unanimously on August 21, 2017 to proceed with a Notice of Intention to Designate the Glen Abbey Property under the Ontario Heritage Act as a property of cultural heritage value or interest. Pacific Life Assurance, the mortgagee of the property, has filed an objection to this Notice with the Conservation Review Board. A pre-hearing will take place in the Oakville-Trafalgar Room at Town Hall at 10 a.m. on December 20, 2017. This pre-hearing will determine hearing dates and confirm parties, participants, and other procedural matters for the hearing.
• On September 27, 2017, Council voted unanimously to refuse ClubLink’s applications to redevelop the Glen Abbey Golf Course lands by replacing the golf course with a mixed residential and commercial development. ClubLink has appealed this decision to the Ontario Municipal Board. A pre-hearing date has not yet been set but it is expected to take place in the spring of 2018.

For more information, visit our Glen Abbey Information page.