Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Land use change proposed for Golf Club pushed back; Vote from P&Z to wait

By GRAY ROHRER, grohrer@breezenewspapers.com

A controversial proposal to change the land designation of the former Cape Coral Golf Club that would allow the property to be commercially developed has been “temporarily postponed,” according to a consultant for the owner, Florida Gulf Ventures.

The issue was scheduled to come up during today’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, but has been canceled.

“We didn’t think it would be prudent to go through with it at this time,” consultant Bill Nolan said Tuesday. “It’s not been withdrawn at this time but delayed. The proposal is temporarily postponed.”

Florida Gulf Ventures acquired the 177-acre golf course in 2000. The company’s plan to change the golf course’s land designation from parks and recreation to mixed use called for 800 residential units, 325,000 square feet of retail space and 100,000 square feet of office space.

Residents who live nearby the golf course have come out against the plan.

“We would like to see it remain a golf course,” said Cape Coral resident Neil Smith, who lives on the southeast corner of the property.

Smith said he believes the developer pulled the proposal in anticipation of a negative vote by planning and zoning.

“I would interpret this as they did not think it was going to pass,” he said.

The plan’s application process is now on hold as Florida Gulf Ventures reconsiders its options. What exactly those options are remains unclear, although Nolan said the land will eventually be developed.

“Something is going to be done,” he said