Historic Glen Abbey property saved from redevelopment

Town of Oakville received great news today that ClubLink has withdrawn its appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal of applications to demolish the Glen Abbey Golf Course and replace it with a high-density residential development.

“The announcement that the Glen Abbey lands will be conserved is precisely what Town Council, Halton Regional Council and Oakville residents have been working towards for many years,” said Mayor Rob Burton in a statement issued earlier today. “I want to thank the committed volunteers in the community who worked tirelessly to ensure that the Glen Abbey property was conserved. The thousands of letters written to the Province made a difference and showed how our community is an engaged community.”

Glen Abbey Golf Course has been an important part of Oakville’s history for more than half a century. Designed by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, it was originally constructed by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) as the home of the Canadian Open. Today, it is one of the most famous courses in Canada and an iconic landmark in Oakville and the surrounding Glen Abbey community. Demolition of Glen Abbey would irreversibly remove its cultural heritage value. Heritage policy and legislation in Ontario was developed to prevent this from happening, particularly in cases such as Glen Abbey where the heritage value is so significant.

“The support from Premier Doug Ford, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark and our local MPPs Stephen Crawford and Effie Triantafilopoulos cannot be understated in saving Glen Abbey, as Minister Clark said in his Statement, ‘for future generations,’” added Mayor Burton.

The town’s Livable Oakville Official Plan sets out the vision for our community to preserve our heritage and stable residential neighbourhoods, while identifying nodes and corridors as the focus of high-density growth. ClubLink’s proposal did not adhere to the town’s official plan, nor did it conserve the heritage value of the golf course, which is subject to a designation by-law enacted by Council under Ontario Heritage Act.

Town Council refused ClubLink’s applications, and adopted its own official plan and zoning provisions to ensure the conservation of Glen Abbey, which ClubLink appealed. As a result, the town has been engaged in lengthy proceedings before the courts and the Ontario Land Tribunal over the last five years. A hearing before the Tribunal for a final determination on ClubLink’s appeals was scheduled to start on August 9, 2021, however will not proceed given ClubLink has withdrawn its appeals.

For more information, visit the Glen Abbey Information page.