A major residential development planned for the former Perth Golf Course has received the green light from the Ontario Land Tribunal, clearing the way for more than 1,000 new homes on the western edge of town.
In a decision issued Sept. 1, the tribunal approved the revised plan submitted by Caivan (Perth GC) Limited for approximately 300 hectares at 141 Peter Street.
The approval covers the required Official Plan amendment, zoning bylaw amendment, draft subdivision plan and conditions attached to the development.
The revised plan calls for approximately 1,061 homes, an increase from the 940 units included in the original proposal. The neighbourhood will feature a mix of detached houses, traditional townhouses and stacked townhouses.
A block of land will also be transferred to Lanark County for affordable housing. The decision does not specify how many affordable homes will eventually be built on that property.
Caivan launched its appeals in 2023 after the Town of Perth and Lanark County did not make decisions on the applications within the timelines required under provincial planning legislation.
The municipality, county and developer later entered Ontario Land Tribunal-led mediation. They reached a settlement supporting the revised development plan in April 2026.
The tribunal reviewed that settlement during a video hearing on Aug. 6.
The development will be completed in phases over several years, with the pace of construction tied directly to water, transportation and other infrastructure.
Before the first 200 homes can be built, improvements to the existing Peter Street Bridge must be completed to the Town of Perth’s satisfaction. The infrastructure needed to service those homes must also be substantially finished.
Construction beyond the first 200 homes will require confirmation that Perth has enough water supply and servicing capacity. A second crossing of the Tay River must also be substantially completed before the larger development can proceed.
Floodplain work will require approval from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. Required changes to floodplain boundaries and related work must be completed before construction takes place in affected areas.
A Stage 4 archaeological assessment must also be completed at the Flett Farm site before that portion of the property can be developed.
The project includes 2.2 hectares of parkland, a connected open-space system, trails, stormwater management facilities and neighbourhood commercial space.
The first nine holes of the existing Perth Golf Course will be retained and protected as part of the development. The plan allows the private nine-hole course to continue operating and includes space for a future clubhouse.
Environmental protections are also included for the Tay River corridor, forested areas and the provincially significant Grants Creek Wetland. The tribunal was told the development has been designed to avoid key natural areas and prevent negative effects on their ecological functions.
A total of 53 people were granted participant status during the case. Concerns raised included traffic, bridge access, flooding, environmental damage, archaeological resources, affordable housing and the potential effect on downtown Perth.
The tribunal concluded those concerns had been satisfactorily addressed through the revised plan, technical studies and conditions attached to the approval.
Professional planner Liz Howson told the tribunal the property is inside Perth’s urban settlement boundary and has long been identified as an area for future growth. She said the project supports the town’s growth strategy while providing different housing types, parks and public infrastructure near downtown.
The tribunal found the plan is consistent with provincial planning policy, conforms with the official plans of Perth and Lanark County and represents good planning in the public interest.
Lanark County will be responsible for granting final subdivision approval.
While the ruling removes a major planning hurdle, construction will not happen all at once. Each phase will depend on the developer meeting the infrastructure, environmental and archaeological conditions included in the tribunal’s order.
