Source: The Calgary Herald (Alberta)
The posh Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club is being looked at for a multimillion-dollar housing development in a land-swap deal that would see the private course relocate just south of Calgary.
WestCreek Developments has submitted a proposal to golf course shareholders that would see an exchange of the club's 83 hectares -- south of Anderson Road and west of 14th Street S.W. -- for 180 hectares on the east side of Macleod Trail at 210th Avenue S., currently home to a trailer court and vacant land.
WestCreek would pay $20 million for construction of two 18-hole championship golf courses and a clubhouse, driving range, practice facility and maintenance building.
Teed-off homeowners living alongside the existing course are worried the proposed development would slash their property values and destroy esthetically pleasing sightlines.
"It could be a $100,000 pain (in lost property value). This kind of house is really sought after," said Terry Brown, whose house on Wood Crescent S.W. backs onto the ritzy 18-hole private facility.
Brown, 58, who isn't a member, said he was "shocked" when he learned of the proposal and he is certain his "property value and own personal happiness" will erode if the plan goes forward.
"It would be housing or shopping centres or whatever they intend to do where I used to have nice green space," he said.
Homeowner Kathy Mundt, whose property also sits adjacent to the course, said she has no major qualms with the development as long as "adequate" green space is maintained next to her backyard.
"It's really nice having the golf course there, but they have a right to do what they want, as long as they're reasonable," she said, adding she hopes developers would leave trees and a path down to Fish Creek Park.
A club member who lives alongside the course, but didn't want to be identified, said he'll vote against the proposal.
"It will devalue my property. Why would I want that?" he said.
A preliminary vote by the golf course's 550 shareholders to tentatively proceed with the proposal was scheduled for early March, but has been delayed, possibly for at least a couple of months so members can study the proposal, said Dwayne Blume, the golf course's general manager.
"If they said no at any time, (the deal) would cease," Blume said. "It's too premature to make an assessment on how the members are feeling."
Developers had hoped the land-use redesignation process for the new golf course subdivision (where members could move) would begin in May, but they need shareholders' approval on the swap before it can go ahead.
Construction of the new links would begin in June 2006 and be open for play by June 2008, according to a letter sent by the developer to club shareholders.
WestCreek would take possession of the current Canyon Meadows lands in October 2008, the letter says.
A transfer of the current municipal tax rate now applied to Canyon Meadows would need to be incorporated into the new course before the development could go ahead, it says.
The proposal comes at an attractive time for club members, as the golf course is set to spend "millions" of dollars on major renovations to the clubhouse, front nine greens and irrigation system.
The back nine is also scheduled to be rebuilt, due to a 2003 deal with the city that pays the club up to $4.5 million in exchange for 6.15 hectares of land to widen 14th Street and improve the intersection at Anderson Road.
WestCreek has been selling the move to the new links as a way for members to avoid paying the costly redevelopment fees at the current links.
"This is an excellent opportunity for Canyon Meadows and WestCreek and deserves further detailed investigation," says a letter from WestCreek president Bravin Goldade to club members. "We ask that shareholders look at this opportunity with an open mind, considering the long-term viability of the club."
Goldade couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.
Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart, who represents the area in question, said she was told about the proposal just a few weeks ago and doubts many residents in the area have been informed about it.
"I don't think the community is totally in the loop with what's going on," Colley-Urquhart said. "I was waiting for the developer and the golf course to indicate to me whether this is serious or not, or whether they were just musing."