Residents Blast Florida Golf Course Plan
Developer wants homes on sites of Tamarac links
There are many steps to come before two Florida golf courses can be converted to residential developments, but to many people living along the golf courses, the decision is already clear. And they don't like it.
Sabal Palm and Monterey golf courses, both located near Commercial Boulevard and Florida's Turnpike, were acquired last month by a developer that proposes building more than 700 single-family homes and townhouses. Nearby residents are desperately hoping the Tamarac City Commission will deny the developer's request to change the zoning from recreational to residential.
"Just say no," implored Mainlands resident Reuel Sherwood.
The first step toward the zoning change will come during a planning board hearing 9 a.m. Wednesday at City Hall.
Tamarac is not the only South Florida city where fairways are being considered for conversion. Officials in Pembroke Pines this month approved the closing of 123-acre Raintree Golf Course, which will be turned into 103 luxury homes, and a proposal to build 168 luxury condos on a portion of the Country Club of Coral Springs received rezoning approval last fall.
Tamarac city officials conducted an informational meeting Thursday at 8601 W. Commercial Blvd. and will have another one there at 7 p.m. today, offering residents a briefing on what developer Prestige Homes has proposed and the process it will have to go through. Thursday's 21/2-hour session, described by some city officials as the most heavily attended city meeting in years, saw hundreds of residents fill the Tamarac Community Center ballroom.
Community development director Chris King and City Manager Jeff Miller spent about 20 minutes illustrating the standards that Prestige Homes will need to meet and the various city, county and state agencies it must satisfy. They made it clear that Prestige, as the new owner of the property, had a right to apply for a zoning change, and they also noted that commissioners could not express an opinion on the issue until it was formally presented.
But after the presentation, the audience spent two hours making its opinion crystal-clear.
"I don't know of anyone in the Mainlands, or anyone in east Tamarac, who supports this proposal," said John Halenar.
Subsequent comments addressed traffic, pollution, the strain on schools and utilities and the danger of more vehicles on the streets in a senior community that has no sidewalks but lots of memories.
"We walk slower, we drive slower -- we're good voters, though," said Carol Lauren.
Some suggested Prestige Homes' purchase of the land, before it was rezoned, indicated the rezoning was a "done deal," a contention denied by both Tamarac Mayor Joe Schreiber and Prestige Homes attorney Gerald Knight. Knight said the company hoped the long-term benefits of the new homes would win over the City Commission and residents.
"Hopefully, once they get more information about the project, they'll become more receptive to it," Knight said, adding, "but maybe that's being optimistic."
More Florida Golf Course Information.
There are many steps to come before two Florida golf courses can be converted to residential developments, but to many people living along the golf courses, the decision is already clear. And they don't like it.
Sabal Palm and Monterey golf courses, both located near Commercial Boulevard and Florida's Turnpike, were acquired last month by a developer that proposes building more than 700 single-family homes and townhouses. Nearby residents are desperately hoping the Tamarac City Commission will deny the developer's request to change the zoning from recreational to residential.
"Just say no," implored Mainlands resident Reuel Sherwood.
The first step toward the zoning change will come during a planning board hearing 9 a.m. Wednesday at City Hall.
Tamarac is not the only South Florida city where fairways are being considered for conversion. Officials in Pembroke Pines this month approved the closing of 123-acre Raintree Golf Course, which will be turned into 103 luxury homes, and a proposal to build 168 luxury condos on a portion of the Country Club of Coral Springs received rezoning approval last fall.
Tamarac city officials conducted an informational meeting Thursday at 8601 W. Commercial Blvd. and will have another one there at 7 p.m. today, offering residents a briefing on what developer Prestige Homes has proposed and the process it will have to go through. Thursday's 21/2-hour session, described by some city officials as the most heavily attended city meeting in years, saw hundreds of residents fill the Tamarac Community Center ballroom.
Community development director Chris King and City Manager Jeff Miller spent about 20 minutes illustrating the standards that Prestige Homes will need to meet and the various city, county and state agencies it must satisfy. They made it clear that Prestige, as the new owner of the property, had a right to apply for a zoning change, and they also noted that commissioners could not express an opinion on the issue until it was formally presented.
But after the presentation, the audience spent two hours making its opinion crystal-clear.
"I don't know of anyone in the Mainlands, or anyone in east Tamarac, who supports this proposal," said John Halenar.
Subsequent comments addressed traffic, pollution, the strain on schools and utilities and the danger of more vehicles on the streets in a senior community that has no sidewalks but lots of memories.
"We walk slower, we drive slower -- we're good voters, though," said Carol Lauren.
Some suggested Prestige Homes' purchase of the land, before it was rezoned, indicated the rezoning was a "done deal," a contention denied by both Tamarac Mayor Joe Schreiber and Prestige Homes attorney Gerald Knight. Knight said the company hoped the long-term benefits of the new homes would win over the City Commission and residents.
"Hopefully, once they get more information about the project, they'll become more receptive to it," Knight said, adding, "but maybe that's being optimistic."
More Florida Golf Course Information.
posted by John at
10:55 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home