A $10 million to $15 million renovation of the city’s municipal golf course, which is just shy of 100 years old, will begin once the city selects a developer. In August, the city of Delray Beach hired real estate firm CBRE to solicit bids for the redevelopment of the land. The bids, now narrowed to four, would revamp the 148-acre property in exchange for some of that land to be sold off for development. Many residents, however, believe a public-private partnership deal is not what the city needs to offset the costs of restoring the course.

The future of the Delray Beach Golf Club in Delray Beach, Fla. is in the hands of city officials, but residents are making their voices heard also, most notably questioning more development on the property as well as traffic concerns, The Palm Beach Post reported.

A $10 million to $15 million renovation of the city’s municipal golf course, which is just shy of 100 years old, will begin once the city selects a developer, The Palm Beach Post reported. Most of the cost will go toward underground utility work.

In August, the city hired real estate firm CBRE to solicit bids for the redevelopment of the land, The Palm Beach Post reported. The bids, now narrowed to four, would revamp the 148-acre property in exchange for some of that land to be sold off for development.

That’s where residents have an issue, The Palm Beach Post reported. Many believe a public-private partnership deal is not what the city needs to offset the costs of restoring the course. And with each proposal including the addition of at least 120 new residences, traffic is a concern for residents.

“Traffic, as it is, doesn’t flow too well in that area in snowbird season,” said Chuck Beauregard, a 10-year resident of Delray Beach. He imagines it will only worsen.

Other concerns residents have about the redevelopment are keeping the green space that’s left in the city, the guarantee of proper maintenance over time and that a historic public resource will be turned into something other than that, only affordable to a select few, The Palm Beach Post reported.

“We’re OK paying 50 bucks to play,” Beauregard said. But, he says, after the renovation, he doesn’t see the course being able to offer a round for $50. He believes it will be at least $100 per round.

At a commission meeting March 2, the four remaining proposals out of the initial six were presented by the developers, The Palm Beach Post reported. About 40 people were there.

Based on a survey of about 250 responses from the community taken before the meeting, this is how residents ranked what’s most important in their consideration of the proposals: The 18-hole championship course; Clubhouse size and amenities; Practice area design; Green fees; Restaurants or shops; and New housing.

Also based on the surveys, residents said they hoped to see better fairway conditions and structural repairs that return the original course to favorable playing conditions as part of the redevelopment, The Palm Beach Post reported.

Here are the four proposals left for the commission to consider, The Palm Beach Post reported:

• CGHP Development and Hensel Phelps: An 18-hole golf course that would bring the city an annual revenue of $960,000. This proposal would place a new, smaller clubhouse near Atlantic Avenue and add 312 residences and a 128-room SpringHill by Marriott hotel. The proposal includes 1,420 sq. ft. of retail space and 3,630 sq. ft. of restaurant space. The group is the only one endorsed by the Donald Ross Foundation.

• Bobby Jones Links and Mill Creek: An 18-hole golf course that would generate an annual $2.2 million in revenue for the city. Their proposal would renovate the existing clubhouse, add 650 residences and dedicate 8,000 sq. ft. to space for retail and restaurants. The architect for this team is Rees Jones, a highly regarded golf architect.

• Heatherwood Luxury Rentals: An 18-hole golf course that would generate $2.2 million in annual revenue for the city. This proposal would renovate the existing clubhouse and add 360 residences. It also would set aside 13,840 sq. ft. for an entertainment center and 7,000 sq. ft. for restaurant space. This proposal would place a long clubhouse entrance road at Highland Avenue rather than its current Atlantic Avenue entrance.

• Related Group: An 18-hole golf course that would bring the city $1.9 million in revenue annually. This proposal includes a new 25,000 sq.-ft. clubhouse, which would have a restaurant. It would also add 444 residences and 24 villas and set aside 5,000 sq. ft. for upscale dining in the clubhouse. This is the only proposal that would restore seven of the first nine Donald Ross holes, versus all nine. It includes the largest of the proposed clubhouses.

Three more public meetings will take place this month before a decision is made.

Here is a previous story on this issue that appeared on the Club+Resort Business website.