Ontario developer's plan to build golf course on farmland has some worried it will 'destroy' their village

Some residents of a small village in Ontario's cottage country are speaking out against a proposed development that would see farmland turned into a golf course resort and housing.

The Kawartha Bay project in Cameron, Ont., located approximately 150 kilometres northeast of Toronto in the City of Kawartha Lakes, is being proposed by Markham-based Flato Developments. It would feature an 18-hole golf course interspersed with 339 seasonal homes, 84 rentals, a clubhouse, restaurant and a refurbished marina. 

Flato is asking Kawartha city council to rezone 156 hectares of land it owns — most of which is currently designated for agricultural or rural uses  — to "tourist commercial" to allow the resort to operate. The development would be serviced by privately-owned facilities for treating drinking water and wastewater.

"Flato looks forward to expanding tourism and supporting this idyllic community, while preserving the natural beauty and heritage of the area," the developer's website reads. 

"The introduction of a recreational resort will provide sustained economic growth, enhance the infrastructure in the community and offer diversified tourism with four-season appeal."

But Margaret Carroll, a 66-year-old retiree who grew up in the same home she now lives in with her husband in Cameron, disagrees with that vision.

"Personally, I think it will basically destroy our life," said Carrol. "The life that we have now will totally be gone."

Carroll said life in the village is "very quiet, nice and serene." She said she worries the resort will increase pedestrian and vehicle traffic along the two-lane road that runs outside her house alongside Lake Sturgeon and that an increase in short-term rentals could disturb the peace of the community. 

According to a conceptual design of the proposed development, the 16th hole of the golf course would be right behind the Carrolls' backyard. Carroll said she worries that runoff from pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals that could be used on the golf course could contaminate her well water or pollute the lake, both of which are downhill from the golf course's proposed location.

"There's there's really no plus to this resort for us," she said.

At a meeting of the City of Kawartha Lakes planning committee on Sept. 13, planning consultant Matthew Cory of Malone Givens Parsons appeared on behalf of Flato and said the "world-class" golf course will be designed by Doug Carrick — who he called a "pre-eminent" designer of golf courses in Ontario.

Cory said at least 25 per cent of the land would be designated as environmentally protected.

"The reason we've only submitted a zoning amendment at this time was to codify and look at the principle of development and, more importantly, to establish the areas that can be developed and the ones that cannot. And the ones that cannot are the ones that need to be protected for natural heritage protection," Cory told the meeting.

A majority of residents who spoke at that meeting opposed the development, raising concerns about the loss of farmland, possible harm to delicate ecosystems and that the resort will cater to rich customers, rather than locals.