The residents of Milcroft…

The residents of Milcroft purchased their homes at a premium because they chose to live in a golf course community. That was the fundamental bargain between the homebuyers, the developer, and the City of Burlington. The existence of the golf course was a defining feature of the community and a significant factor in both property values and purchasers’ decisions to invest in the neighbourhood.

If the new owner of the golf course wishes to fundamentally alter that arrangement, they should be required to follow the established planning process by applying to the City of Burlington for the necessary zoning and land use approvals. Any proposal to change the intended use of the property should be evaluated transparently and with full public consultation.

In my view, this proposal is a poor outcome for the community. However, if the developer seeks to change the original bargain through redevelopment, it should also be required to fairly compensate Milcroft homeowners for any demonstrable loss in property value resulting from the removal of the golf course. Homeowners should not bear the financial consequences of a unilateral change to the very feature that justified the premium they paid when purchasing their homes.