Access to old golf course prohibited
The owner of the former Cape Coral Golf Club recently announced to surrounding residents that anyone found on the defunct property will face trespassing charges.
In a Jan. 27 memo, Florida Gulf Venture notified the adjacent Banyan Trace community and nearby homeowners and residents that it would begin placing no trespassing signs around the perimeter of the old golf course as of this week. Privately owned by Florida Gulf Venture, it is not open to the public.
“This memorandum serves to inform property owners and residents in the surrounding neighborhood that anyone failing to observe the posted signs will unlawfully be committing the offense of trespassing and will be liable under Florida Statute,” according to the document signed by Florida Gulf Venture.
Florida Gulf Venture is a division of Ryan Companies US.
Kathy Jalivay, a spokeswoman for Ryan Companies US, confirmed the move on Thursday.
“We’re asking for their cooperation and compliance,” she said.
Jalivay declined to comment on what spurred the move to put up the signs.
“There’s just really nothing to say,” she said. “We’ve put sign up for no trespassing on our private property.”
Barth Wolf, president of Save Our Recreation, weighed in on the announcement.
“I totally understand. It’s totally within their legal rights to do this, but it’s just a shame,” he said on Thursday. “It’s such a nice piece of property – since it’s been shut down, people have been using it.”
Save Our Recreation was established as a non-profit organization years ago by local residents and homeowners in an attempt to preserve the land as a park or recreational property for the public.
“People walk their dogs back there, they bicycle on the trail,” Wolf said, noting that residents have even helped to maintain the golf cart paths over the years. “People come and fish in the many ponds.”
“It has really served as a de facto park for many years,” he said. “People are just disappointed.”
Located along Palm Tree Boulevard, the former Golf Club was shut down more than 10 years ago by Florida Gulf Venture because it was losing money. In 2009, the company filed a lawsuit against the city after it refused to approve a land use change for the property from parks and recreation to mixed use.
Four years later, a circuit court judge ruled in favor of the city, upholding the denial.
About a year ago, Florida Gulf Venture entered into a sales contract with D.R. Horton for the property. Florida Gulf Venture has since applied for another land use change to single-family residential. The contract is contingent on the Cape approving the new land use change.
In the meantime, D.R. Horton had submitted plans to develop an estimated 500 homes as part of a development called “The Palms” on the 177-acre parcel. It had originally submitted plans to build 600 residences on the property, including apartments, multi-story condos and commercial components.
As of Thursday, no public hearings had been set yet for either item.
Connie Barron, the city’s spokeswoman, said both were still in the works.
“They submitted some information,” she said. “It’s still moving through the process.”
“Nothing is set as far as any public hearings yet,” Barron added.
In an effort to fulfill its mission, Save Our Recreation recently launched a petition drive to gather as many signatures as possible in support of its stance against D.R. Horton’s plans for the property.
“We do have a petition drive going,” Wolf said.
Group members have been attending the Cape Coral Farmers Market and Sunset Celebration at the Cape Coral Yacht Club to collect signatures, as well as have reached out to other organizations.
“We’ll be at Bike Night this weekend to get the petitions signed,” he said.
The non-profit plans to have a role in the upcoming hearings.
“We’ve hired our own consultant and attorney so we can participate in the process,” Wolf said.
To sign the petition or for more information about the Save Our Recreation group, visit online at: www.saveourrecreation.us/. People can donate online, view an upcoming calendar and more.
“We have opportunities to volunteer,” he said.
On March 11, a fundraiser will be held at Fathoms Restaurant & Bar; details to be announced.