Boynton Florida Golf Course Panel Opposes Plan To Build Housing At The Links Golf Course
Members of the city's Golf Course Advisory Committee rebuffed a proposal Thursday to build affordable housing on part of The Links golf course at Boynton Beach Florida.
Commissioner Mike Ferguson last year asked the City Commission to consider opening the old municipal landfill for developers to build about 500 homes. Ferguson said some of the units could be built on the landfill and the adjacent Florida municipal golf course by reconfiguring the greens.
But the board disagreed with the portion of the proposal that affected the Florida golf course. Herb Suss, a member of the golf board, asked the members to approve a statement recommending that "the current 27 holes remain intact permanently for the use of all golfers and not be considered for any other purpose."
"We have a pristine, beautiful Florida golf course and I don't want anything coming in that is going to destroy it," Suss said.
The five-member advisory board unanimously approved Suss' recommendation.
Ferguson, who attended the meeting, said the recommendation was "premature," but "reasonable." He still likes the landfill proposal, however, saying the city must first conduct environmental studies to prove the property can be used to build golf course homes.
Moreover, Ferguson said he also wants any potential developer to help improve the 27-hole Florida golf course.
"To get that golf course took a lot of effort and we need to keep it, but if we can get a new clubhouse that's good," Ferguson said.
At his request, the City Commission agreed to ask for a grant from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council to study whether the city could use the landfill at all.
Ferguson's plan includes a city community land trust. The trust would issue $100,000 vouchers to home buyers to offset the price of homes. The voucher would revert to the land trust when the home is sold.
The idea of using landfills to build homes for low- and middle-income families is not new, but there are many hurdles. There are environmental, health and regulatory questions that must be addressed.
The landfill, which was used from 1959 to 1983, is in an unincorporated area of the county east of the E-3 canal and south of Palm Way. The city is charged with monitoring and maintaining the site until 2012.
Should the Florida golf course do this?
Commissioner Mike Ferguson last year asked the City Commission to consider opening the old municipal landfill for developers to build about 500 homes. Ferguson said some of the units could be built on the landfill and the adjacent Florida municipal golf course by reconfiguring the greens.
But the board disagreed with the portion of the proposal that affected the Florida golf course. Herb Suss, a member of the golf board, asked the members to approve a statement recommending that "the current 27 holes remain intact permanently for the use of all golfers and not be considered for any other purpose."
"We have a pristine, beautiful Florida golf course and I don't want anything coming in that is going to destroy it," Suss said.
The five-member advisory board unanimously approved Suss' recommendation.
Ferguson, who attended the meeting, said the recommendation was "premature," but "reasonable." He still likes the landfill proposal, however, saying the city must first conduct environmental studies to prove the property can be used to build golf course homes.
Moreover, Ferguson said he also wants any potential developer to help improve the 27-hole Florida golf course.
"To get that golf course took a lot of effort and we need to keep it, but if we can get a new clubhouse that's good," Ferguson said.
At his request, the City Commission agreed to ask for a grant from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council to study whether the city could use the landfill at all.
Ferguson's plan includes a city community land trust. The trust would issue $100,000 vouchers to home buyers to offset the price of homes. The voucher would revert to the land trust when the home is sold.
The idea of using landfills to build homes for low- and middle-income families is not new, but there are many hurdles. There are environmental, health and regulatory questions that must be addressed.
The landfill, which was used from 1959 to 1983, is in an unincorporated area of the county east of the E-3 canal and south of Palm Way. The city is charged with monitoring and maintaining the site until 2012.
Should the Florida golf course do this?
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