Council To Weigh Plans For Florida Golf Course
The city council on Aug. 17 will consider preliminary plans for 310 homes on the former Port Malabar Country Club Golf Course.
The planning and zoning board on Wednesday voted 5-1 in favor, overruling the objections of neighbors. Board member Adam Hill voted no.
"Everybody hates to see the Florida golf course go," said Bob Williams, vice chairman of the board. "It's a tough issue. I've played the course over the years."
Neighbors said they won't give up the fight.
"It's just the beginning. We don't want homeowners to become discouraged," said Russ Wood, president of the Port Malabar Country Club Community Association.
Among concerns cited by neighbors:
Drainage, because the new homes would be built higher than those surrounding the course.
Traffic congestion
Arsenic in the soil that could become airborne during construction
Private water wells and an artesian pond
Reduced home values
The loss of valuable trees
Environmental concerns and habitat loss
The board continued discussion from its July meeting, because of questions that couldn't be answered by Jack Spira, a local attorney representing the new owners.
In June 2004, the course was sold to Palm Bay Greens LLC. The Florida golf course closed the following year. In February, the clubhouse was torn down and the pool filled in.
Charles Madge has fought home construction on the course for more than a year. He said it would reduce the beauty of the area.
"Many people are bitter," Madge said.
Spira said the residents want open land, but they don't want to pay for it. He said the landowner is entitled to develop the site if he follows zoning and code requirements.
"We've agreed to all the conditions imposed by city staff," he said.
Conditions include an environmental impact study, efforts to save trees, traffic modifications and another access through an agreement with Villas of Island Green.
Spira has met with residents. Developers offered to dig trenches through golf cart paths to direct water into ponds in exchange for resident support of the project.
"It's very frustrating," Spira said. "I thought we had an agreement, but I guess the people with drainage problems have other agendas."
The planning and zoning board on Wednesday voted 5-1 in favor, overruling the objections of neighbors. Board member Adam Hill voted no.
"Everybody hates to see the Florida golf course go," said Bob Williams, vice chairman of the board. "It's a tough issue. I've played the course over the years."
Neighbors said they won't give up the fight.
"It's just the beginning. We don't want homeowners to become discouraged," said Russ Wood, president of the Port Malabar Country Club Community Association.
Among concerns cited by neighbors:
Drainage, because the new homes would be built higher than those surrounding the course.
Traffic congestion
Arsenic in the soil that could become airborne during construction
Private water wells and an artesian pond
Reduced home values
The loss of valuable trees
Environmental concerns and habitat loss
The board continued discussion from its July meeting, because of questions that couldn't be answered by Jack Spira, a local attorney representing the new owners.
In June 2004, the course was sold to Palm Bay Greens LLC. The Florida golf course closed the following year. In February, the clubhouse was torn down and the pool filled in.
Charles Madge has fought home construction on the course for more than a year. He said it would reduce the beauty of the area.
"Many people are bitter," Madge said.
Spira said the residents want open land, but they don't want to pay for it. He said the landowner is entitled to develop the site if he follows zoning and code requirements.
"We've agreed to all the conditions imposed by city staff," he said.
Conditions include an environmental impact study, efforts to save trees, traffic modifications and another access through an agreement with Villas of Island Green.
Spira has met with residents. Developers offered to dig trenches through golf cart paths to direct water into ponds in exchange for resident support of the project.
"It's very frustrating," Spira said. "I thought we had an agreement, but I guess the people with drainage problems have other agendas."
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