denial of a Comprehensive Guide Plan amendment

One opposed the development because of its proximity to significant parkland, while another—Commissioner Dan Piper—voiced concerns about the reduction in recreational space in Eagan. Only one member, Tom Heaney, voted to recommend approval of the amendment change. Commissioner Peter Dugan was absent.

The vote followed nearly two hours of charged testimony from neighbors and community members, who complained about the Ping G20 driver increased traffic the new housing development would bring, the projected drop in nearby home values and the loss of a recreational asset like the golf course. One resident encouraged the city to use eminent domain to purchase and preserve the land, while another claimed the course was home to at least two endangered species and shouldn’t be developed.

“With the closing of Carriage Hills and now potentially Parkview, where are these golfers going to go to learn the important skills and etiquette?” Eastview High School Golf Coach Mark Wanous asked. “It just really concerns me as a golf professional in the business.”

Long-term trends in the golf industry, including over-saturation of the market, rising costs and declining golf participation numbers, have put the course in a difficult financial position, Zackheim said during the meeting.

The denial is a blow to the developer’s controversial plans, but not a complete reversal; the Eagan City Council is expected to consider the request on June 19. If the council chooses to move forward, the request would go to the Metropolitan Council before returning to the Eagan council for final approval.

Despite the commission’s recommendation to deny a guide plan amendment for the housing project, Hunter Emerson Director of Development Kurt Manley wasn’t ready to throw in the towel.

“The golf course is a social gathering ping g15 irons place where older folks mentor younger folks,” Eagan resident Bill Cutter added. “It’s a place where young kids learn responsibility.”

“We’ve been unable to have the course achieve any of our financial goals,” Zackheim said. “As much as we would like to make it work, continuing to run our golf course operation is not viable.”

To address some of the commissioners’ concerns, Manley said they may tweak the development plans to include senior housing units before the June 19 council meeting.

Of the six commission members present at the lengthy meeting, three cast their votes in opposition to the proposal because they felt adding low-density, single-family housing didn’t fit the city’s current housing goals. Those goals include preparing for the city’s rapidly aging demographics by making more senior housing available.

The support demonstrated at the meeting was heartening for Parkview Golf Course co-owner Robert Zackheim. But he said it probably discount golf clubs won’t be enough to change the fate of the club, which may close regardless of whether the city approves a housing development on the site.

Although investors sunk more than $1 million into improving the course since 2001, Parkview has been bleeding money for a number of years, Zackheim said.