City committee approves plans for amusement park in Kanata Mall

Hazeldean Mall in Kanata. An application has been submitted to allow an amusement park to open in the mall. (Google Maps/website)

A new indoor amusement park is one step closer to reality in Kanata.

The planning committee approved a zoning amendment to allow an amusement park to operate within the Hazeldean Mall on Eagleson Road.

“All activities associated with the amusement park use will remain internal to the shopping centre; the existing footprint of Hazeldean Mall and parking spaces will remain unchanged,” staff said in the report.

• Plans in the works to open an amusement park in a Kanata mall

Staff say there are “no concerns” with the amusement park operating on the property.

“An indoor amusement park is an efficient use of the vacant space within the existing shopping centre that positively contributes to that vision and the goals of the 15-minute neighbourhood; a place where individuals can live, work and play as the community continues to grow and evolve,” said the report.

Coun. Allan Hubley supports the proposed amusement park.

In March, The Hazeldean Mall would not confirm who will operate the amusement park. An initial plan submitted with the city named Funhaven as the operator of the facility.

The Hazeldean Mall was built in the 1970s and has approximately 29,000 square metres of gross floor area. Last year, a T&T Supermarket opened in the mall in Kanata.