Greens to greenspace plan at former golf course criticized at committee meeting
CTV
The future of the former River Road Golf Course won’t be decided anytime soon.
The future of the former River Road Golf Course won’t be decided anytime soon.
Three local environmental organizations sent a letter to council’s Community and Protective Services Committee asking that all 134 acres of the property be retained as public greenspace.
“I would argue that the highest and best use would be to keep it a green space consistent with The London Plan designation for this property,” urged Mary Ann Hodge of Climate Action London during her delegation to committee members.
In November, the previous city council supported a staff recommendation to retain 85 per cent (114 acres) of the property for a riverside district park, and investigate selling the remaining 20 acre parcel along River Road for light industrial development.
“Industrial land use demand will continue as we continue to attract employers and economic opportunity to the city,” said Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis.
However, the new ward councillor for the area expressed an openness to the delegation’s argument that planting trees on the 20 acre parcel would help London achieve its tree canopy and climate change goals.
“I’m leaning towards retaining this as a greenspace. I do think that we desperately need it,” Coun. Hadleigh Mcalister told colleagues on the committee.
