Mast Capital bought the resort for $15 million a year ago and crafted a plan to build 465 new apartment, close the existing driving range at the front of the community and shut down nine of the 36 holes of the golf course designed by Arnold Palmer. Residents have expressed opposition to the proposal due to issues such as compatibility, transportation concerns and impact on natural resources. Pasco County Commissioners on Feb. 7 spent nearly six hours listening to all sides and decided to delay a vote on transmitting the amendment to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity until April.

The first approval needed to build new apartments and make changes to golf amenities at a resort in Tampa, Fla. will be addressed by the Pasco County Commission in the spring, Tampa Bay Times reported.

Mast Capital, the owner of Saddlebrook Resort, requested an amendment to its growth guidebook that, if approved, would forward the proposal to the state for review, Tampa Bay Times reported.

Pasco County Commissioners on Feb. 7 spent nearly six hours listening to all sides and decided to delay a vote on transmitting the amendment to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity until April, Tampa Bay Times reported. That is the first approval needed for the project to move forward and would be followed by land use changes that also go through public hearings.

Mast Capital bought the resort for $15 million a year ago and began to craft a new community plan, Tampa Bay Times reported. That plan includes updating the aging resort’s features. But residents are most anxious about a proposal to close the existing driving range at the front of the community and build 465 new apartments.

Residents also oppose a plan to close nine of the 36 holes of the golf course designed by Arnold Palmer, Tampa Bay Times reported. Mast Capital also is proposing a mixed-use development to the east of the entrance and a new driving range and maintenance area in the southeast corner of the community.

Barbara Wilhite, representing Mast Capital, said that the changes requested have been discussed in detail with Saddlebrook’s residents and that the developer has been willing to incorporate community suggestions throughout the process, Tampa Bay Times reported. She also said that the existing development approvals have never been completely constructed.

“We want it to be a world-class resort again,” said Jordan Kornberg of Mast Capital. “It’s been a long time since it’s seen improvements.”

Developer representatives have agreed to establish a deed restriction promising the golf courses will remain in the community and committed that residents with a golf course view now would always have one, Tampa Bay Times reported.

An earlier version created new residential areas where the nine golf holes would disappear, Tampa Bay Times reported. Commissioners complained Tuesday that important details, including the first look at the new areas for the driving range and maintenance area were not presented until the meeting.

Attorney Jane Graham, who represents resident groups and individuals, told commissioners they could deny the request to transmit the plan to the state for any rational reason including compatibility, transportation concerns or impact on natural resources, all issues raised by residents.

Rather than a development right, she said, “the developer is actually asking you for a favor.”