The public will have a chance to speak up about the proposed application, proposed development and reconfiguration of Armstrong’s Royal York Golf Course (now Overlander Golf and Events Centre) property during the regular meeting of council Monday, Sept. 27, via Zoom starting at 5 p.m. The proposal has reached second reading and a public hearing must be held prior to third reading. (File photo)

Armstrong councillor still opposed to golf course plan, public hearing

Jim Wright said Monday's scheduled public hearing at 5 p.m. on Royal York Golf Course plan to add more housing and reduce golf course size should not be held during pandemic

  • Sep. 27, 2021 12:00 a.m.

The public will have its chance to speak on a contentious redesignation application of the Royal York Golf Course property during a public hearing on the application Monday, Sept. 27 in Armstrong.

Via Zoom.

During a pandemic.

Neither of which sit well with Coun. Jim Wright.

In an open letter to council, which was sent by Wright to the Morning Star, he said holding a public hearing between second and third reading of the redesignation bylaw proposal “in the presence of the COVID fourth wave is unacceptable.”

“This is a major and controversial development proposal for a small city,” said Wright. “If approved, Armstrong taxpayers will lose financially. Our budget-scheduled infrastructure upgrades are not completed, and we will lose much-needed recreational property.”

Proponents of the plan, including members of the York family, who have owned and operated the property since its inception, are looking to change the official community land use designation of the property from multiple-unit residential (low density) to park, change the land use designation of 10 hectares of the property from commercial recreation to single/two unit residential, and change a one-hectare portion from commercial recreation to park.

If successful, the applicants plan on adding housing around the property, and reducing the size of, but keeping, the nine-hole golf course.

Among others, Wright has been opposed to the application since Day 1.

“At the very least, this council should defer this rezoning application, OCP amendment, and proposed MDA (Master Development Agreement) with the developer, until after the scheduled city election next year when COVID should be contained, and a referendum could be held,” said Wright. “We have already been given legal notice to “act accordingly” by the Greenspace Society, so hopefully the city would not have to be burdened with the cost of a public inquiry or rescinding of the rezoning?”

In its agenda package as of Friday, Sept. 24, council had received a handful of letters against the application, including a two-page letter from Lindsay Thachuk, president of the Armstrong Green Space Society, also opposing the plan as he and his group have since the beginning.

The public hearing on the matter will be held during the regular meeting of council, which starts at 5 p.m.

READ MORE: Wright wrong in perceived corruption in golf course application: Armstrong CAO

READ MORE: Armstrong group calls on council to spare local golf course from housing development

READ MORE: Owner shares future vision for Armstrong’s only golf course


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