Windsor committee backs heritage protection for entire golf course

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South Windsor residents celebrated a victory at city hall Monday night when a committee of council voted to keep heritage protections on a historic golf course property, a portion of which was recently slated for housing development.

Going against a recommendation from city staff, Windsor’s development and heritage standing committee opted not to lift heritage designation from Roseland Golf and Curling Club’s parking lot and clubhouse, where council previously voted to pursue a private residential build.

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The move was pitched as a way to streamline the existing clubhouse’s demolition and ease the way for whichever developer is eventually selected to erect housing — likely luxury condos — on the city-owned property. But several committee members were swayed by delegates who’d done their homework and noted the protected clubhouse long-destined for the wrecking ball could still be demolished without removing the property’s heritage designation.

“I’m extremely pleased. I’ve never been as proud to be a Ward 1 councillor as I am tonight,” said Fred Francis, who represents the Roseland neighbourhood on council. He put forward a successful motion to deny the staff recommendation.

“The residents came out with class, professionalism, context, information — they did a lot of the work.

“The fact that we were able to get a denial of this development after a year or so was a huge win for the residents of Roseland, a huge win for the residents of South Windsor.”

City council as a whole will have final say over whether the entire golf course property keeps its heritage designation. That decision will be made at a future meeting.

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In February 2024, a council majority agreed to pursue private housing development on land currently occupied by the neglected, oversized clubhouse and part of the parking lot. It’s part of the city’s Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan, which invites developers to submit proposals for housing builds on select city-owned properties.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens later announced plans for 38 privately built high-end condo units on Roseland property.

For Roseland, city staff pursued a heritage impact assessment to understand the property’s cultural heritage value and to identify any potential impacts a heritage bylaw amendment might have.

But a report to the committee by hired consultant a+LiNK Architecture created confusion among residents and committee members. The report dealt with 10 acres of Roseland property, including the entire nine-hole, par-three course, which doesn’t have heritage characteristics. That set off alarm bells among golfers who play the popular “shorty” course, and for councillors aware of how much money the course brings in (about $15,000 per month). Neither group wanted protection lifted from the par three.

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However, city staff emphasized only four acres — the parking lot and clubhouse land — were being considered for heritage designation removal. The entire property, including the 18-hole heritage golf course designed by renowned architect Donald J. Ross in 1926, is roughly 125 acres.

A representative from the consulting firm told the committee there may have been some miscommunication between the city and the firm.

Voting to deny the staff-recommended heritage bylaw amendment were Francis, Ward 4 Coun. Mark McKenzie, Ward 7 Coun. Angelo Marignani, and citizen member John Miller. Only Ward 10 Coun. Jim Morrison and Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie voted in favour of removing heritage protection for the parking lot and clubhouse.

When the vote was complete, applause erupted from the gallery in council chambers where about 20 residents were seated.

“There’s an argument to be made that de-designating these assets that aren’t heritage actually strengthens the protections of the course,” Kieran McKenzie said, referencing recommendations in a staff report.

“I know we have to move forward with a new clubhouse. I’m going to oppose the motion, because I believe that we need to proceed with the pathway that administration has carved out for us and get that new clubhouse built as soon as possible.”

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Catherine Archer, a nearby resident, said she fears lifting heritage protection for any part of the property could eventually lead to development on the heritage golf course.

“This is not yours to do what you want with. Your job is to protect it,” said Archer, who collected hundreds of signatures on a petition opposing the Roseland housing development.

“The provincial push for housing should have nothing to do with Roseland golf course.”

Since the clubhouse can be demolished with a simple heritage permit, which would also require council’s endorsement, resident Albert Schepers questioned why the city had undertaken such a robust process to remove part of the property’s heritage protection.

“It seems to me that this is a pet project,” Schepers said. “Why are we doing this now? Why are we wasting city resources on this process today?

“If the city really wants to have a 38 (-unit) upscale condo development, then get a developer in, get a proposal in, and then come before this committee — same thing for a clubhouse or a plan for a clubhouse.

“It’s premature, as far as I’m concerned.”

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The 18-hole golf course at Roseland was designed by renowned architect Donald J. Ross in 1926 and constructed in 1927. It’s considered the “centrepiece” of the Roseland Park subdivision, developed by “the locally significant entrepreneur Henry James ‘Harry’ Neal,” the staff report said.

The City of Windsor bought the property in 1972 and built the clubhouse with six curling sheets in 1978. The one-and-a-half-storey building “has had minimal maintenance and updating since its construction,” and has been vacant since the curling club ceased operations last spring, the staff report said.

The nine-hole, par-three course and some outbuildings — the pro shop, snack shop, and maintenance building — are also not original to the golf course.

In 2003, city council gave heritage designation to the entire golf course property, including the clubhouse and the parking lot.

City heritage planner Tracy Tang explained that heritage designation applies to property as a whole and “helps protect heritage features and attributes,” providing a “tool by way of heritage permits to manage changes and alterations to the property to ensure that they are compatible and respectful.

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“A heritage designation is not meant to freeze a property in time,” Tang said.

“Designation amendments to carve out a portion of the designated property for development potential are not uncommon.”

The heritage committee and city council have approved heritage permit applications for alterations and partial or full demolitions “where the building or structure was not specifically identified in the designation bylaw and not of any heritage value or interest,” the staff report said.

In accordance with the Planning Act, any future development proposal on Roseland property would require a separate heritage impact assessment.

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