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Article Courtesy of The
Herald-Tribune
By Josh Salman
Published January 3, 2016
Steve Kern bought his home in Gulf Gate in 2009, in part for the views of the
manicured golf course directly behind his backyard.
But now, one of the state’s most politically influential developers has come
forward with plans to dig up those bunkers and putting greens to make way for
more new homes.
Kern fears the proposed development would
destroy the character of his coveted middle-class community that
dates back decades. He is among hundreds of homeowners in Gulf
Gate to have plunked a sign in their yards to protest a proposal
to rezone the links into a new residential subdivision.
The latest plan comes as the sport of golf has waned in recent
years, hurting the fortunes of courses in Southwest Florida,
where at least two — Forrest Lakes and Sarasota Golf Club — were
closed to make room for houses.
But those who live in Gulf Gate are worried about losing the
privacy and greenbelt that the course provides. They believe the
new housing will hurt the values of their homes, strain to their
quiet neighborhood roads and overburden the local schools. |
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Many Gulf Gate homeowners have put signs in their yards to oppose any
move to rezone the golf course in their neighborhood and use the
property for home sites.
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“It’s one of the few green spaces left in this entire part of town,” Kern said.
“There are endangered birds that live on the property and other wildlife. We
would hate to see that go.”
Medallion Home, a Manatee-based homebuilder owned by Carlos Beruff, filed a
request with Sarasota County planners in October to rezone the 49-acre course
for more housing density. Beruff has proposed building 109 homes on the site,
which would we gated off from the existing Gulf Gate residences, records show.
The links were purchased in December 2005 for $1.9 million by Gray Gate Golf
Course LLC, a Sarasota company managed by Leslie W. Gray.
But the course never rebounded from the Great Recession, with its assessed value
by Sarasota County consistently sliding from $1.85 million in 2007 to $715,000
this year. The course, a private business and not supported by dues from the
community’s voluntary homeowner’s association, struggles to attract golfers
off-season.
Gulf Gate community members say Beruff is in negotiations to purchase the
property for his development. That deal is reportedly contingent on the rezoning
being done.
Beruff, who could not be reached for comment for this story, is one of the most
influential homebuilders in the region.
The Herald-Tribune reported last month that he is considering a run for the
Senate seat being vacated by GOP presidential candidate Marco Rubio.
Beruff — who has been on the boards of the Southwest Florida Water Management
District, State College of Florida and the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport Authority
— has a close relationship with Gov. Rick Scott.
Previous attempts to rezone the golf course failed, but Gulf Gate homeowners
fear Beruff’s political influence and the current county commission’s pro-growth
stance could make this attempt different.
The development would still need to be approved by the Planning Commission and
County Commission.
“It has become an issue that has ignited a fairly diverse population,” said
Michael O’Loughlin, a 67-year-old retired schoolteacher who lives along the
course. “There are elderly. They are very young adults just getting a family
going, and everyone in between. They all want to preserve this.”
“If you just put those 109 homes in the middle of Gulf Gate, it could be very
bad.”
This is not the first development by Beruff to spark public outcry.
In 2013, he was behind a controversial development plan to build as many as
4,168 residential units — in both single-family homes and low-rise condominiums
— at Long Bar Pointe in West Bradenton.
Armed with a petition carrying more than 6,500 signatures, residents packed a
12-hour marathon meeting before the Manatee County Commission to voice their
dismay over the plan, which ultimately had to be reshaped.
Real estate experts say the uncertainty surrounding the new development could
hurt home values in Gulf Gate in the short-term.
But if new and more upscale homes were to begin sprouting, the community could
actually enhance real estate values in Gulf Gate by propping up the
“comparables” used by appraisers to judge values, while also encouraging more
remodels.
“People don’t like change, so for that homeowner who has lived there for 20
years, this is going to be undesirable,” said Joe Murphy, a Realtor with
Coldwell Banker. “But golf courses are money losers most of the time, and the
price points of these new houses will be much higher.” |
