Stonebridge residents skeptical about golf course's future

People who live near the StonebridgeGolf and Country Club in south Ottawa came out in droves Thursday night to express their skepticism about the future of the golf course.

Themeeting on Thursday night attracted more than 250 people to a city-facilitated discussionin the wake of a contentious proposal for development.

MattamyHomeswithdrew its original applicationto rezone and subdivide theBarrhavengolf course in July.

The developer's plan to rearrange and shorten the course offLongfieldsDrive to build 158 homes on its propertywas met withopposition from someresidentsat a June 2018 meeting.

• Stonebridge homeowners pan developer's plan for golf course
• Mattamy Homes withdraws plan for Stonebridge golf course

Bob Keith lives near the golf course on Sandgate Ridge and golfs there regularly.

His discussion group questioned the purpose of the meeting.

"We're wondering whether or not Mattamy is trying to gather information from us in order that we show our poker hand, so to speak, and give them ideas on how to move forward in the future," he said.

"For most of us, we don't want to see any building on the golf course. We don't see a need for facilitation at all."

Sarah Yorkepaid a premium to live on a property that backs onto the golf course. She said it was a choice to have peaceful surroundings.

"I don't want my money back, I want Stonebridge to remain what it is," she said in the meeting to a round of applause.

"Once you've opened the door to the possibility of developing on the golf course, everything is fair game."

Nadine Foster, whose home backs on the the 12th hole, said the discussion needs to be about how Ottawa's suburbs have grown.

"Multi-family units are being thrown up on every patch of grass in the neighbourhood and the infrastructure's not supporting it. The congestion's ridiculous," she said.

"The city needs a bigger conversation about how the neighbourhood is growing and what we can do about it, because we're losing all our public spaces. Pitting home owners against a developer is not the solution here."

'Reset' for consultation

Barrhaven Coun. Jan Harder, chair of the city's planning committee, described the meeting as a chance to hit the "reset" button after the response to the previous proposal.

Kevin O'Shea, division president for Mattamy Homes Ottawa, attended the meeting though the company didn't make a presentation.

"We committed to the city that we'd engage in a mediation process and that's what tonight's about," he told CBC News.

"This year we're going to have golf on that golf course. What happens after that, we're just committed to engaging in this process for the time being."

Jay McLean, president of the Stonebridge Community Association, said the community association plans to participate in the facilitated discussion, but wants more information about the parametersspecifically that not developing the golf course would be an option.

Gloucester-South Nepean Coun. Carol Anne Meehansaid she stands by her election promise to protect the golf course, thoughit may be difficult.

A recent proposal for a golf course development in Kanata has brought up a 38-year-old agreement to protect greenspacethat might see the city step in.

"We don't have the same agreement," Meehan said.

"The land quite frankly belongs to Mattamy.What they want to do with it is Mattamy's choice."