CITRUS COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Many of the residents that live inside the quiet community of Pine Ridge bought their homes in the mid 1990’s with the understanding that it would remain a golf course community.
The golf course closed in 2022 and remains that way due to funding issues. Now a developer, Dix Developments, will go before the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to make its case for changing the defunct golf course to a “development within a development.”
Many homeowners are opposed to the idea. On a website titled Save the Golf Course Property it states, “We have all put a great deal of time and effort into saving Pine Ridge from this destructive proposal. We know our property values will never realize their full potential if we lose this beautiful amenity to a developer. It will resonate to all of us with a domino effect. We are already seeing a 25% loss in land values according to official notice from the county property appraiser’s office.”
James Dicks, the CEO of Dix Developments, says he will lay out the whole plan at a public hearing on Tuesday.
The development application submitted would amend the Pine Ridge master plan to re-develop the more than 200-acre golf course into approximately 85 single-family homes.
“The cost to keep the golf course open would have been 2.5 to 3 million dollars and that is to just bring it up to playable standards,” said Dicks. He said when he first walked the property, he was appalled at the condition.
Some who oppose the development say they believe Dicks never intended to fix up the golf course and bought it for the property resale value. He counters and says when his company buys a property, they look at the “best use.” He says they plan on a gated community within Pine Ridge but will keep one acre lots and lighting and sidewalks.
The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Citrus County Courthouse.
Veronica Kampschroer, public information officer for Citrus County, says due to anticipated large turnout for the hearing, they are partnering with the Clerk of the Circuit Court to ensure the process for public comment flows as smoothly as possible. Members of the public will be permitted three minutes to speak. The county is also setting up an overflow area with a live feed of the meeting available for viewing.
The BOCC will vote at the end of the hearing to approve or deny the application.