City Council on Tuesday granted approvals that some officials hope will end years of disputes and uncertainty about the former Signature at West Neck golf course property.
The 18-hole course’s closure in 2019 led to what one recently characterized as a “land war” about the course's conditions and its potential development.
Council approved rezoning 86 acres for 143 units of 55-and-older housing and a nine -hole course near the Indian River Plantation and Villages at West Neck neighborhoods. The project is called the Preserve at West Neck.
The vote followed hours of public comment. At the top of the meeting, Mayor Bobby Dyer said more than 110 people had signed up to speak.
“This is one of those King Solomon decisions and there was a lot of emotion in the room today and I’m sympathetic,” Dyer said nearly five hours later.
Developer Harrison and Lear got the approval a year after withdrawing another plan that had housing and more community access to open space but not golf. The Preserve at West Neck involves Marc Leishman, a professional golfer who lives in Indian River Plantation.
“We would like to try and help it become a golf community again,” he said Tuesday.
The Signature was considered the open space part of a 1999 plan for the age-restricted West Neck neighborhood, which has more than 930 homes.
Critics said new housing shouldn’t be allowed on land that counted toward earlier development. Proponents presented the project as a solution to controversy about the state of the former course, which led to litigation and, following a 2023 brush fire, safety concerns among neighbors.
Councilmember Barbara Henley, whose district includes the area, moved to deny the developer’s applications because they aren’t consistent with city policy and would negatively affect the Villages at West Neck’s quality of life.
“If we do this to this well-established neighborhood, every neighborhood in the city should feel threatened that any day they could be threatened with development, particularly if they have open space that they thought was protected.”
Her motion failed, 3-8, and Councilmember Amelia Ross-Hammond moved for approval.
“Change is constant,” Ross-Hammond said, noting the proposal could be a compromise.
It passed, 9-2, with Henley and Councilmember Stacy Cummings voting no.
City staff had recommended denying the plan because of the density of the project and lack of open space compared to guidelines for the area, while noting positive aspects of the plan. Last month, planning commissioners recommended approval.
During the council meeting Tuesday, Sharon Williams, president of the West Neck Community Association, said the former course was supposed to stay open without housing.
“The issue tonight is not about a new nine -hole golf course, as the zoning is already in place for that,” Williams said. “The golf course can be rejuvenated at any time.”
Fred Giles, an Indian River Plantation resident, said the plan could “breathe life back into the golf course, albeit only nine holes” and add to both neighborhoods.
“If we don't go forward with this project, what do you think is going to happen?” he said. “It's been six or seven years and there's no other prospects out there. It's just going to get worse and worse.”
