Developers seek to replace golf course with subdivision
By Greg Rayburn \ Editor
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 3:16 PM CST
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| Golf course Vote: Club Properties Inc. has asked the Planning Commission to approve plans for a 203-lot residential subdivision at the former North Hills Country Club and golf course. (Photo by Greg Rayburn) |
The owners of the former North Hills Country Club and golf course have filed paperwork in the city engineer’s office to convert the property to a housing subdivision with some small commercial development.
According to a preliminary plat drawing filed by Club Properties Inc., the owners are asking the city to approve plans for a 203-lot residential subdivision. And they want the commission to rezone 14 acres to C-3. Portions of the tract in the southwest corner are zoned C-2 and R-1.
“The golf course is gone and closed,” according to project architect Basil Shoptaw of the Thomas Engineering Co. of North Little Rock. Thomas Engineering designed and submitted the preliminary plat to the city.
Shoptaw said studies looked at the feasibility of keeping North Hills as a golf course and that the financial numbers didn’t add up.
“If you are going to develop a golf course, you would need a couple of hundred acres, and there is only 105 acres there,” Shoptaw said.
Shoptaw said plans do not call for a gated community for the subdivision.
Earlier, Maumelle developer Ron Campbell had proposed converting the golf course to a 200-home residential development with high-value homes in a gated community.
Mayor Virginia Hillman said she knows of no movement trying to keep the former country club as a restored golf course.
“The city sat down with the owners of North Hills, and they refused to take anything less than $5 million from the city,” Hillman said.
Last year, the City Council passed a resolution authorizing City Attorney Steve Cobb to negotiate with the owners.
Developers offered North Hills $5.1 million. A few months later, when the city authorized an appraisal, the appraisers gave the property a $2.2 million value.
Shoptaw said the preliminary plan would make it possible for 203 homes to be built, but the rezoning request reflects no impending commercial development.
“Seeking the rezoning is for potential future development,” Shoptaw said.
The Planning Commission will hear Club Properties’ request at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, in the City Council chambers.
Ted wrote on Jan 7, 2008 10:51 AM:
This is a historic golf course that should be the jewel of our city, and yet our leadership continues to pander to developers. We destroy the area around Sherwood Forest to put in a Wal-Mart, and now we propose to destroy this wonderful course. Our leadership must become more forward thinking, and begin to protect those things that make Sherwood special "