Tribute Construction has submitted an application that would convert part of Etowah Valley Golf & Resort’s golf course into a 242-lot housing development. David Garnett said residents formed an opposition group when developers were attempting to turn the golf course into an RV park, and now that same group is opposed to the new subdivision plan. Residents are concerned about how a new development would affect property values and traffic volume. The proposal will be reviewed at a Planning Board meeting Aug. 24.

Etowah, N.C. residents are continuing their battle against any developments on the local golf course, WLOS reported.

It began in May when Tribute Construction submitted an application to build an RV park and a new sewage treatment plant at Etowah Valley Golf & Resort, WLOS reported. The developer’s application has since been resubmitted to turn part of the golf course into a 242-lot housing development.

Club + Resort Business wrote a story in 2018 about Etowah Valley Golf & Resort’s return to its glory days.

Residents have continued to fight over the last few months against any development on the golf course they say must be preserved, WLOS reported.

David Garnett said residents formed an opposition group when developers were attempting to turn the golf course into an RV park, and now that same group is opposed to the new subdivision plan, WLOS reported.

“We do not know why, but Tribute Construction abandoned their plan to build an RV park and replaced it with a plan to build this 242-lot subdivision on the south course,” he said.

Garnett said the developers would have to destroy the nine-hole course on the south side to make room, WLOS reported.

“I’ve not met anyone in Etowah, so far, that wanted the RV park or anyone that wanted the subdivision,” he said.

That includes Julie Brandt, whose home would back up to that nine-hole course that would be destroyed to make way for the subdivision, WLOS reported.

Brandt said the entire situation has been extremely nerve-racking and frustrating, and she just wants it to be over.

“I don’t want to see any building going on. I don’t want to live near a wastewater treatment plant,” she said.

Garnett and Brandt said the entire Etowah community is united in not wanting to see any developments go through, WLOS reported.

“It would be bitterly and angrily and long remembered as a project that was forced on the Etowah community against our will,” Garnett said.

He said the golf course is the focal point of Etowah and the thought of destroying it for the sake of a subdivision doesn’t make sense to any of them, WLOS reported.

Garnett’s worried that once that door to a large subdivision is opened, it won’t end there, WLOS reported.

Garnett and Brandt are concerned about the amount of traffic that will be added to their area as well as what it will do to their home values, WLOS reported.

“We are a little country town with little country roads,” Brandt said.

WLOS has reached out to Tribute Construction for a comment and has yet to get a response.

According to a representative with Henderson County, the subdivision plans were approved at Technical Review Committee meeting on Aug. 15 and will now go to the Planning Board for a vote at its Aug. 24 meeting.