Boca Raton agency rejects plan to build homes on closed golf course

Despite a trend toward allowing residential development on golf courses, the Boca Raton Planning & Zoning Board rejected a proposal to build homes on a closed golf course called Hidden Valley Golf.

A group of developers led by Brian Tuttle want to build 101 homes, a clubhouse and a lake on the 55.1-acre golf course, which closed in 2006.

But at a public meeting packed with opponents of the planned development, the Boca Raton Planning & Zoning board decided the zoning for the closed golf course should remain recreational.

The Boca Raton City Council, which usually upholds recommendations by the planning and zoning board, will consider the board’s decision to maintain recreational zoning for Hidden Valley Golf in about three weeks.

Opponents of rezoning complained about the potential for a residential redevelopment of Hidden Valley Golf to worsen traffic on nearby streets, worsen flooding in the area, and add to congestion at crowded public schools in Boca Raton.

Tuttle said plans to build a lake at Hidden Valley Golf would preclude increased flooding. He and his partners agreed to voluntarily pay $210,109 o the School District of Palm Beach County to offset the impact of crowding at public schools.

The city of Boca Raton recently agreed to sell a municipal golf course still open in West Boca to GL Homes for residential development.

The Deerfield Beach City Commission last month approved a plan by Toll Brothers to build 201 townhouses on a golf course in the Century Village development that hasn’t been used for golf in four years.

In October, Deerfield Beach commissioners approved a plan to build more than 400 houses on the grounds of the Crystal River Golf Club. [Sun-Sentinel] — Mike Seemuth