Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The Golf Club may become shops, other businesses
The owners of The Golf Club in Cape Coral are asking the city to rezone their property to allow business ventures that might include retail shops, offices and multi-family housing.
Kent Carlson of Florida Gulf Ventures Inc. announced the move in a letter to residents dated April 23 and obtained this morning by news-press.com.
The course is zoned residential but designated for parks and recreation uses in the city's future land use plan. City council approval is needed to change it.
“The current economic conditions cannot support a golf course operation. Absent this ability, our partners are deeply committed to finding a solution that is advantageous to the entire community, accentuates our beautiful Florida environment and meets the needs of the local market,” Carlson’s letter said.
“The project will include significant public park and lake components,” Carlson said.
Some residents said during a February townhall meeting that they wanted a combination of city and private sector financing to develop a hotel, convention center and golf course.
Others hoped the city would buy the course and keep it for golf or for a city park.
