The Lakeside Greens Preservation Society is asking for city council to refuse to rezone one blade of grass on the golf course during the March 8 Committee of the Whole meeting.
“Our ask is simple; the society is asking that our leaders refuse to rezone a single blade of our golf course grass. We aren’t asking for the city to step in with funding, or take any ownership in the course,” society executive director Darby King-Maillot said. “Chestermere deserves to keep its assets. With your support, we can put this fight behind us so our community will never have to deal with this again.”
The society believes it’s integral to maintain the golf course in its entirety, no rezoning, and no alterations, as even the partial rezoning of the course would impact Chestermere’s ability to host high-level tournaments, and provincial championships.
“The objectives are to oppose the re-zoning of the Lakeside Greens Golf Course land for any development, not one blade of grass, ensure there is no development now or in the future on this site, and protect our community, recreation, and its residents,” society chair Brent Ladds said.
Since 2020, the society has worked to preserve the golf course with initiatives including awareness campaigns, elected officials and candidate meetings, social media posts, advertising, lawn signs, and an online petition with nearly 5,000 signatures since December 2021.
“Our group has accomplished a lot, we’ve brought together neighbourhoods, we’ve connected with many community groups, we’ve had conversations with thousands of Chestermere residents, and we have built a structure that will last,” King-Maillot said.
In the last two years, the society has received an overwhelming amount of support from members of the community, and everyone who enjoys the golf course.
“We’re very passionate about preserving Chestermere’s golf course, and in our opinion, it’s a key city landmark. The outgoing pouring of support for our cause from the community has been nothing short of overwhelming,” Ladds said.
King-Maillot expressed that many residents are worn down and exhausted by the attempts to fight off the potential rezoning and redevelopment of the golf course.
“We know that the developer has a willingness to say and do anything, and has millions of dollars to fight their fight,” King-Maillot said. “There are solid, strong, and community-minded people willing to purchase the course at fair market value that are committed to keeping the property as a golf course, the only ask if that our mayor and council continue refuse to rezone and help us find a way to protect the course.”
