Council weighs $150,000 tab to study state of golf in city
Woolley argues against expenditure
In the wake of four recent golf course redevelopments, council will consider if it’s worth spending up to $150,000, and the equivalent of nearly two full-time city employees, to review the state of golf in Calgary.
A city committee approved moving the pitch to council for a final decision, with only Ward 8 Coun. Evan Woolley opposed to spending staff resources and $75,000 to $150,000 for consultants to spend a year studying the matter.
Woolley argued the problem of golf course redevelopment isn’t unique to Calgary and isn’t a top priority at this time.
“There’s been a ton of research done around golf courses,” Woolley said in council chambers Wednesday. “Why wouldn’t we just go buy a report, as opposed to spending upwards of $350,000 on consultants and staff time on this?”
But city administration told the community and protective services committee that Calgary is unlike other markets when it comes to losing golf courses, and needs its own study.
“Over the past seven years, golf courses within the city have seen increasing pressures for redevelopment as the city grows,” said Joshua de Jong with the community planning department.
In recent years, contentious housing redevelopments have been approved on several former golf courses — decisions that have spurred protests, petitions and lengthy public hearings in which neighbours have begged the city not to approve buildings on their beloved courses.
“One of the reasons a lot of people move into areas is access to a golf course or green space,” said Richard Pootmans, committee vice-chair and Ward 6 councillor. “Losing that creates huge turmoil in communities.”
Calgary is currently home to 23 active golf courses, six of which are owned and operated by the city, while four others have been approved for redevelopment since 2011, including Harvest Hills, Highland Park and Shaw-Nee Slopes.
The idea to look at what resources would be needed to study the state of golf in Calgary and develop a plan for addressing golf course retention and redevelopment was approved by council in February, in an 8-5 vote, following a conversation about tax relief for golf courses.
Kurt Hanson, general manager of community services, said if council approves the golf study, the finished work would benefit future decisions around the council table.
“What we’re trying to get to is when council is faced with one of these (golf course redevelopments) … how do we respond?” Hanson said Wednesday.
“This is information that will lead us to a point to understand the situation to make more effective recommendations to deal with it.”
The matter is scheduled to go to council on July 24, and if councillors and the mayor approve pushing the study forward, funding would need to be secured as part of the 2018 budget process.