Background and Legal Context

Background

The owners of the former 70-hectare Kanata Lakes Golf and Country Club in Kanata North are proposing to redevelop the site into a residential community.

ClubLink Corporation submitted Plan of Subdivision (D07-16-19-0026) and Zoning By-law Amendment (D02-02-19-0123) applications to the City on October 8, 2019 to permit the development of a subdivision consisting of a variety of residential land-uses (R1, R2, R3 and R5 zones) with approximately 1500 residential units in total (Application Details - Development Applications Search). The project proposes a mix of detached dwellings, townhouse dwellings, back-to-back townhouses, stacked townhouses, apartment blocks, parks, open space, stormwater ponds, and associated infrastructure.

Proposed Development:

Map of proposed developmentMap prepared by NAK Design Strategies

The subdivision design according to the proponent's application for the project includes 70 hectares of total site area, with 33 hectares dedicated to residential land, 14 hectares dedicated to roads, and 23 hectares planned to be dedicated as parks, open space, landscape buffers and stormwater management ponds.

Ultimately, these applications were appealed by ClubLink to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a lack of decision within statutory timeframes in March 2020.

Legal Context

The City of Ottawa opposed redevelopment of the former golf course lands before the Ontario Land Tribunal. The appeal involved land-use considerations and the legal agreement dating back to 1981 (later updated in 1988) which required that 40 per cent of the total development area be designated as open space for the community, including the golf course lands. The Ontario Land Tribunal ultimately decided in favour of the appellant (ClubLink) and on January 27, 2026 issued both a zoning by-law amendment and draft plan of subdivision approval under the Planning Act. The City’s leave to appeal was also rejected by The Supreme Court of Canada. Timelines listed below:

  • May 1981 and updated in 1988 – Legal agreement requiring 40 per cent of the total development area of the community be open space, including the golf course lands, between the City of Kanata and Campeau Corp.

  • October 2019 – ClubLink Corporation submitted Plan of Subdivision (D07-16-19-0026) and Zoning By-law Amendment (D02-02-19-0123) applications to the City

  • March 2020 – ClubLinks Plan of Subdivision and Zoning By-law Amendment were appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal

  • July 2020 – The impact of the Forty Percent Agreement on the subject lands was subject matter of a court application commenced by the City.

  • February 2021 – Superior Court decision in favour of the City with respect to golf course and greenspace.

  • November 2021 – Court of Appeal allows ClubLink's appeal with respect to provisions requiring the conveyance of the golf course if no longer used for golf course purposes and remits matter to Superior Court for consideration of the balance of agreement.

  • March 2022 – Ontario Land Tribunal issued an ‘in principle’ approval of the Plan of Subdivision and Zoning By-law Amendment.

  • August 2022 – Supreme Court of Canada denies the City’s application for leave to appeal.

  • October 2023 – Superior Court decision on the Forty Percent Agreement rendered in ClubLink's favour.

  • January 2025 – Court of Appeal decision on the Forty Percent Agreement was rendered in the applicants favour.

  • September 18 2025 – Supreme Court of Canada rejects City of Ottawa’s application for leave to appeal.

  • January 27 2026 – Ontario Land Tribunal issued draft plan approval of the Plan of Subdivision and final approval of the Zoning By-law Amendment.

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