Less than two weeks after Visions Golf LLC filed a rezone request to redevelop Walden Lake Golf & Country Club and its two golf courses, Walden Lake Community Association leaders called an emergency meeting to mobilize for discussion and, possibly, for battle.
Before a standing room-only crowd of residents March 3, the WLCA voted unanimously to contact its attorney, Steven Mezer, of Bush Ross, and advise him the board would like to take a position regarding the redevelopment. The board also voted to invite Visions Golf Managing Partner Steve Mercer and its land-use attorney, Ron Weaver, to present the plan.
WLCA leaders hope that presentation takes place either at their next regular meeting March 17 or at its annual meeting April 10.
At the advisement of WLCA Director Bob Hunter, the WLCA is withholding the nature of its position until Visions Golf has a chance to make a presentation to the board.
“It is imperative that we write a letter to the applicant and his attorney and give them a chance to present to this board, before we decide to take a position,” Hunter said. “If we don’t do that, our position will be weakened before the City Commission and any court. If we take a position without hearing from the applicant, I think it is ridiculous.”
The board’s actions come eight months after Walden Lake residents opposing the redevelopment began their fight against Visions Golf. Under the advice of Mezer, who did not attend the emergency meeting, the board has remained mostly silent about the issue. It hosted a workshop with city officials and Mercer in November, and, earlier this year, WLCA Director Rich Glorioso began researching the possibility of purchasing the country club and golf course.
The board’s decision to take a position is a welcome one for residents, who have pleaded with the WLCA to lead their efforts. Laurel Lake resident Nick Brown said he believes a well-coordinated plan would be helpful as the residents share their opposition during city hearings.
“Everything (needs to be) laid out and orchestrated so that the right people are called to say the right things at the right time,” he said. “That means refuting every argument that Visions Golf advances but focusing on the most important reason: The compelling reason for rejecting the rezoning application is that approval would constitute an unwarranted violation of neighboring citizens’ rights. Period.
“We have a vested interest,” Brown said. “When we bought into the community, we bought into a fully developed community, with designated open spaces. For them to change the game at this point in time would constitute a violation of our rights and a betrayal of trust placed in the city.”
Hunter, who retired as director of the Hillsborough County Planning Commission, also made a presentation about the documents Visions Golf filed Feb. 19, with the city.
The application shows up to 581 multi-family units, 187 single-family lots and an assisted-living facility on four parcels totaling 133 acres. The documents also show a 156-unit apartment complex situated over the existing Laurel Lake and a 425-unit complex on the existing driving range and tennis courts.
The submission did not include the required transportation and stormwater studies, but Mercer said his attorney will file those within the next few weeks.
The application also did not detail vehicle access points to the new residential developments, but Hunter said likely locations would be on Sydney Road, Griffin Boulevard and West Timberlane Drive.
The WLCA also agreed to draft a one-page mailing about what its directors know about the application so far.
Visions Golf’s rezone request has not affected the WLCA’s study to determine how and whether it is feasible for the community to purchase the amenities. Vice President Jim Chancey and Director Bruce Rodwell also were appointed to Glorioso’s study committee, and Hunter said he believes Visions Golf is only one part of the process.
“There are some grand opportunities for this to really come out in the positive, eventually, for this community, if done right,” he said. “But, we’ve got to play our cards right.”
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
THE PETITION
Walden Lake residents Shelly Orrico and Sharon Philbin will be gathering signatures for a petition against redevelopment of the country club and golf courses from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, in the community park.
The petition language is as follows:
Walden Lake residents ask the City of Plant City and Hillsborough County to evaluate the Walden Lake Golf & Country Club’s request for the rezoning and building of homes by Walden Lake Golf & Country Club on golf course property.
Walden Lake residents purchased homes at a premium, with the intent of living on a golf course or in a golf course community. The additional building of homes and closing one or both courses would seriously impact the current values of all Walden Lake residents.