The town has paid a third party to operate the golf course since it was purchased in 2009, and is now considering development options for a portion of the property. One plan would include creating a Yale University-affiliated championship golf course and construction of a hotel on bordering property, and the other plan is to create 80 units of cluster housing for residents 55-and-over.
Some 300 residents gathered to hear two proposals for a portion of the Country Club of Woodbridge (Conn.) property that include creating a Yale University-affiliated championship golf course and building a hotel on bordering New Haven, Conn., property, and another plan to create cluster housing of 80 units for the 55-and-over set, the New Haven Register reported.
The town bought the Country Club of Woodbridge property for $7 million in 2009 after its owners went bankrupt. Since then, the town has paid a third party to run the golf course, while a popular outdoor pool and tennis courts are operated by the town. All the while, the town has sought proposals to develop a portion of the property and the Board of Selectmen determined the two presented to the public have potential, the Register reported.
First Selectwoman Ellen Scalettar told residents they have expressed a variety of interests for the property, including as age-restricted housing, open space preservation and recreation. Because the property has been a hot-button issue, Scalettar reminded them that in order for the town to move forward with any proposal, the Board of Selectman must first vote to send a proposal to the public. Woodbridge voters would then decide, likely by referendum, whether to sell the property, the Register reported.
A proposal by Redan Reserve LLC includes a redesign of the golf course already at the club by one of the world’s top golf course architects so that it can become a top 100 public golf course, and to enter into an agreement with Yale University to improve its nearby course and to build an 80-room hotel adjacent to the courses, but on the Westville side so it would be in New Haven, said Roland Betts, who controls Redan. Betts said the deal would involve New Haven, Yale University—which is already considering it—and receiving all the approvals needed, the Register reported.
“It’s a win for everybody involved,” Betts said.
Redan’s goal is to make the golf course into a championship public golf course so it will be a desirable destination for golfers. The Yale and Woodbridge courses are separated by a highway and the hotel would stand at the current Yale course. Redan’s plan would pay the town $3.5 million for the entire property—and the pool would be closed. Betts, who promised he has the entrepreneurial expertise to make it happen, said they’d hope to get approvals by the beginning of the year, the Register reported.
The other proposal, by Toll Brothers, calls for 80 active adult housing units on 42 acres of land that they would purchase, pending approvals, for $5 million. Under the plan, the town would keep 113 acres, the Register reported.
The Toll Brothers representative said there is a need and desire in Woodbridge for 55-and-older housing so that residents can age in place, adding that 45% of Woodbridge residents are over age 50. He said they are proposing a lifestyle community that includes open space the town would keep, and 65 clustered one-family homes, along with 15 “carriage home” units, meaning more than one unit in a building. The carriage home units would sell for between $300,000 to $450,000 and the 65 one-family homes would sell for between $450,000 and $550,000, the Register reported.
The plan also calls for a community center with a pool, tennis courts, bocce and a clubhouse. He said the age restriction would require at least one person in the home to be 55 or older and nobody 18 or younger would be permitted to live there, the Register reported.
The developer also is seeking to refrain taxes until the units are conveyed to their owners. It is estimated the town will net $600,000 in taxes from the development per year, and only about $70,000 for the golf course, but Scalettar noted there are talks about getting additional revenue if the golf course deal goes through, the Register reported.
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