Cape Coral residents look to purchase Hunter's Run golf course after development fails

A controversial apartment development set to replace the Hunter's Run golf course is dead as efforts by the surrounding neighbors lead to a win for green space in the city. For now.

Now surrounding neighbors are planning to keep the space as a golf course and a green space. There are 6 golf courses in the city, with one a municipal course.

Michael Hayes, the course owner, told The News-Press that the potential developer, WB Property Group out of New York, backed out of the deal to build apartments.

Hunter's Run, 1006 SE 4th Place, is a nearly 30-acre parcel surrounded by single-family homes, New Hope Church, and near Nicholas Parkway.

The developer submitted a rezoning application and plans for a four-story apartment development with up to 653 to 742 units with greenways setting units back between 25 to 100 feet. Proposed amenities include a wellness center and pickleball courts.

Hayes said plans for rezoning the parcel have also been withdrawn.

"Currently it's going to be status quo. There is another party that's interested in buying to keep it a golf course," Hayes said. "We are under negotiations right now."

Some neighbors were ecstatic to hear that the development fell through and are now focusing on what's next.

Charlie Pease, one of the most vocal voices in the group's effort to stop the development, said the neighborhood is working on a plan to buy the course and maintain it as such.

"We're at a point where we hope that we can put our money where our mouth is as a group," said Pease.

He said the neighborhood's argument for keeping the space was because Hunter's Run was zoned and designated parks and recreation under the city's future land use comprehensive plan until 2050.

"The goal is to maintain the green space and keep the golf course, so we are working toward that end. There's nothing set yet, but we're trying to come up with something that actually will make sense financially," Pease said.

He hopes to get investors to help pursue keeping Hunter's Run operational as a golf course and that the people against the apartment development are interested in continuing their support.

"We hope that all the folks who showed up, at our church meeting and the council meeting, those who have expressed interest in joining us in the potential purchase of this golf course, they're prepared to entertain that possibility once we have a framework and a contract," Pease said.

He said maintaining green space is vitally important since the city will only keep growing and wants to see both Hunter's Run and the Old Golf Course at Palm Tree Boulevard stay green spaces.

"We need to maintain parks and recreation green space throughout the entire city," Pease said. "We don't want to eliminate green space as we continue to grow because then there won't be anything left for the future, for my child and future generations."

The city's population is expected to grow to more than 430,000 residents by 2070. The current population is about 216,500.

Previous coverage Cape Coral golf course neighbors oppose possible apartment development

Related article Cape Coral neighbors meet ahead of possible development of golf course

Is another golf course in danger?

Joe Mazurkiewicz, the owner of BJM Consulting and consultant on the development for Hunter's Run, said he was befuddled by the council's resistance to considering the development of Hunter's Run.

He said the city, through the Community Development Block Grant program, submitted the Old Golf Course, formerly The Golf Club, for a low, moderate-income project with a mobility hub.

The Golf Club, a 175-acre property at 4003 Palm Tree Blvd., has been vacant since 2006 after 44 years of operation, and later that year sold to its current owners, Florida Gulf Venture, a division of Ryan Companies.

Since 2016, the owners of the parcel have been working with the DEP to examine the soil and then remediate arsenic.

The city is planning to buy The Golf Club.

"The city council didn't have the political horsepower to stand up to the neighbors for market-value housing in one part of the city. But they supported putting in a low- and moderate-income project and another part of the city," Mazurkiewicz said.

At last week's city meeting on June 14, Fire Chief Ryan Lamb clarified the city's position on The Golf Club.

He said the city is considering incorporating green construction and low-moderate housing in a future development at The Golf Club.

"It has not been voted on by the council, it has not even been approved by the county, we are very much in the infancy stages of this and what it will potentially look like in the long run," Lamb said at the meeting.

Luis Zambrano is a Watchdog/Cape Coral reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. You can reach Luis at Lzambrano@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Lz2official.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral residents pursue purchasing Hunter's Run golf course