A local city council member expressed frustration over an unexpected development at the former Kanata Golf and Country Club. Councilor Cathy Curry revealed that she was informed by Minto Homes via email about upcoming work at the site just a day before it commenced. The golf course had been at the center of a prolonged legal battle between the city and ClubLink regarding the property owner’s housing development plans.
Despite the legal victory for ClubLink, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe emphasized that the city would not grant any necessary easements for the housing project. Concerns about stormwater issues were raised by nearby residents who had expected the land to remain open space indefinitely, as outlined in the original contract.
Following the sudden notice from the developer, Curry expressed disappointment, stating that the lack of prior information was unsettling. City staff informed her that Minto had hired a company to clear snow and create a passable route for soil testing, with certain restrictions in place to protect the environment.
Neither Minto Homes nor ClubLink responded to requests for comments. However, Minto indicated its commitment to collaborating with Curry and city officials throughout the project. Barbara Ramsay, chair of the Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition, criticized the lack of proper communication and expressed concerns about potential mercury contamination if the land is disturbed.
Ramsay highlighted the community’s unease over the ongoing activities and questioned the oversight of the testing process. Councilor Curry plans to introduce a motion at the upcoming council meeting to ensure that all 192 development conditions set by the Ontario Land Tribunal are adhered to.
