County OKs Oak Hills Golf Club Resort

BROOKSVILLE - Golfers who regularly play the Oak Hills Golf Club in Spring Hill can look forward to major improvements in the course and the surrounding landscape.

County commissioners Wednesday voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning that paves the way for a resort at Oak Hills.

The developer and project engineer have spent months tweaking the project to get the backing of homeowners, some of whom spoke in favor of the rezoning at Wednesday's land-use hearing.

County Commissioner Chris Kingsley said the course, which had fallen into some disrepair over the years, will now be revitalized and should reap economic benefits.

Michael Eckstein, treasurer of the Oak Hills Homeowners Association, said surveys and conversations with neighbors show an overwhelming majority of people favor the resort concept.

Alan Garman, the project engineer, said the changes to the 30-year-old course will make it more competitive and bring more amenities to the area.

Garman met with homeowners to make sure the finished plan would be pleasing to Oak Hills residents and ensure that the planned buildings on the course will not obstruct views of golf course owners.

The resort, being developed by two limited liability corporations, would affect 215 acres of the public golf course between Elgin Boulevard and Northcliffe Boulevard and Deltona Boulevard and Keysville Road.

To accommodate neighbors whose view would be blocked by golf course buildings, the developer agreed to reduce the number of planned single-family homes to be built on the property from 25 to 19.

In addition to the homes, the developer envisions a resort, spa, three-story parking garage and 52 short-term rental villas.

The plan also shows room for a new three-story clubhouse which would include a pro shop, formal restaurant, conference center, 120-room hotel facility, gift shops, banquet facilities and golf training facilities.

Only one person spoke against the project.

Josephine Dziarkowski, whose property abuts the golf course, said she feared the rental villas would increase crime and she would have to worry about "unruly tourists."

"You cannot control the people coming in and out of our yards," she said.

Commissioner Rose Rocco said the planned changes should enhance security on the golf course because it will be run more as a business with better management and oversight.

County Commissioner Diane Rowden said she could not support the rezoning because it goes against the original master plan of the community and would generate excess traffic and noise.