Ellie’s Notes –November 4, 2025
Hello all and welcome back to the snowbirds that have arrived. It is good to have some lower temperatures. Now, if we could only get some rain.
“Hi Neighbor”, a Sun City Center tradition which I would describe as an open house opportunity, is being held at the SCC Community Hall at 1910 S Pebble Beach Blvd this Thursday, November 6th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. One of the goals of the “Hi, Neighbor!” is to showcase the many clubs and organizations available to provide residents, especially our newcomers, with the opportunity to become familiar with these community assets and potentially particpate. I and Save Sun City Center will be there at table 78 just inside the main door to the left as you enter. I hope to see you there.
ClubLink has been busy fighting legal battles to proceed with their development of Kanata Golf and Country Club in Ottawa, Canada. For details, click to see this Canadian news article.
ClubLink’s efforts to develop the Kanata Golf and Country Club in Ottawa, Canada, bear strong similarities to the company’s actions here in Sun City Center, Florida, including a strategy of purchasing struggling courses for redevelopment and subsequent intense community opposition. All the communities have faced significant setbacks in their fight to preserve local green space.
The Kanata golf course development saga
Acquisition and initial redevelopment proposal
- ClubLink acquires Kanata Golf and Country Club: ClubLink, a Canadian corporation, acquired the Kanata Golf and Country Club in 1996. The club, opened in 1968 and redesigned in 1990, was considered a classic parkland course and one of the best maintained in the Ottawa area, later hosting events such as the 2001 Nations’ Cup. ClubLink, a large and successful operator of premium golf properties, acquired the course as part of its business operations. The primary reason for the later controversy surrounding the course was ClubLink’s desire to redevelop the land for housing, which was a business decision related to real estate value, not the club’s financial state.
- Kanata Greenspace Community corporation: A community organization, the Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition, was formed to oppose the redevelopment of the land and protect it as green space.
The Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition (KGPC) was formed in 2018
organically by local residents, with its initial momentum driven by individuals like Barbara Ramsay, who became the founding and current president .
Other residents quickly mobilized after news broke of ClubLink’s intent to redevelop the Kanata Golf and Country Club land for housing.
The formation process involved community meetings, social media outreach, and grassroots organizing to quickly gather support and establish a formal entity.
The primary purpose of the Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition is to:
- Oppose the redevelopment of the former Kanata Golf and Country Club land.
- Preserve the land as permanent green space for the community
- Uphold the 40% open space requirement of the original 1981 agreement that governed the development of the area.
- Protect the existing greenspace, trees, and natural habitat from being replaced by a housing development.
- Advocate for the City of Ottawa to use all available legal and political means to prevent development and ensure the area remains an ecological and recreational asset for current and future residents.
The Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition was formed as a not-for-profit corporation in July 2019.
The coalition was formed by concerned community residents in response to ClubLink’s 2018 announcement of its plan to close the golf course and build a 4,800-unit housing development on the land.
The coalition has worked closely with local elected representatives, such as Ward 4 – Kanata North Councillor Cathy Curry and former Councillor Jenna Sudds, to fight the development plans.
The coalition’s specific goals include:
o Raising public awareness about the importance of green space preservation.
o Gathering public support and funds to aid the City of Ottawa in its legal efforts.
o Advocating for the enforcement of a 1981 “40% Agreement” between the pre-amalgamation City of Kanata and the original developer, Campeau Corporation, which stipulated that 40% of the area should remain as open space.
The coalition has been actively involved in the ongoing legal battles to block the housing project and ensure the land remains a community green space
Initial redevelopment plan: In 2018, ClubLink and its partners, Minto Communities and Richcraft Homes, filed an application with the city of Ottawa to redevelop the golf course into a residential subdivision of 1,544 homes.
Legal battles and the “40% agreement”
The 40% agreement: The saga largely revolves around a 1981 agreement between the former city of Kanata and developer Campeau Corp. The agreement stipulated that 40% of the land in the Kanata Lakes area, which included the golf course, must be preserved as natural space. If the owner no longer wanted to operate the golf course, they had to offer the land to the municipality.
City of Ottawa files a lawsuit: The city of Ottawa took ClubLink to court to enforce the 40% agreement and prevent the development.
Superior Court victory for Kanata residents: In 2021, an Ontario Superior Court judge sided with the city, upholding the agreement and preventing the development. The court found the agreement valid and ruled that if ClubLink wanted to abandon the golf course, it had to offer the land to the city.
Appeals and reversals: ClubLink appealed the Superior Court decision. In early 2025, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the lower court’s decision, ruling the 40% agreement was no longer valid. This decision effectively cleared the way for the development.
Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal: In September 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear the city of Ottawa’s appeal of the Ontario Court of Appeal ruling. This final decision extinguished the legal protections for the Kanata green space, leaving the community with a major setback.
Provincial government declines to intervene: In late September 2025, the Ontario provincial government, led by Premier Doug Ford, announced it would not intervene in the Kanata dispute. This dashed hopes for a last-minute political rescue.
Similarities to Sun City Center and shared setbacks
| Aspect | Kanata, Canada | Florida |
| Developer strategy | ClubLink partnered with developers like Minto and Richcraft to acquire and redevelop the golf course. | ClubLink pursued a business model of acquiring distressed golf courses in Canada and Florida for redevelopment into residential projects. |
| Community opposition | Residents formed the Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition to fight the development, rallying opposition and participating in legal battles. | The “Save Sun City Center ” and other groups were organized to protect the green spaces and oppose ClubLink’s plans to rezone and develop the golf courses. |
| Legal challenges and setbacks | Kanata residents and the city initially won a Superior Court decision based on the 1981 “40% agreement,” but this was overturned on appeal. The final blow came when the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear the city’s appeal in September 2025. | In early 2024, ClubLink again sought to leverage state-level legislation (the Live Local Act) to potentially bypass local zoning and public hearings. Residents in Sun City Center influenced the amendment of Florida Senate Bill 1730 to protect their recreational space. |
| Loss of legal protection | The Supreme Court’s decision essentially removed the key legal tool used by the city and community to protect the green space, leaving residents with few options. | The threat of ClubLink using state laws to override local protections represents a similar erosion of legal and planning defenses for the Sun City Center community. |
| Corporate tactics | ClubLink and its partners launched a promotional website (“Kanata Possibilities”) showcasing the proposed new development, effectively marketing the outcome as inevitable. | ClubLink has utilized similar tactics in Florida, including presenting plans to bypass public oversight and pursuing projects piecemeal, as highlighted by the SaveSCC with respect to Palm Aire Golf Club |
Lessons and outlook
For Sun City Center, the Kanata saga serves as a cautionary tale highlighting the significant hurdles involved in fighting corporate developers. While legal battles may offer temporary victories, they can be reversed on appeal, and higher courts may not provide a remedy. The struggle also demonstrates the need for sustained community action and political engagement to combat developers who leverage legal loopholes to their advantage.
We continue to depend on the support of the entire community. Your support is key in this prolonged fight for the green spaces in our community – all 1,137 acres. We cannot allow an interloper to destroy the character, beauty and economics of our homes and community for your profit!
Come see us at “Hi Neighbor” and get involved as a volunteer, donor, email blast member, or sponsor. It takes a village to protect a village and its green spaces! We need you!
Please forward this email to your friends and neighbors to keep them in the loop and encourage them to sign up for my email blasts at our website.
Best regards,
Ellie Anderson
President
Save Sun City Center
312-282-7337