LA PORTE, Ind. (WSBT) — From fairways to front doors, a familiar LaPorte landmark is facing a major makeover.
A residential subdivision will replace the Briar Leaf Golf Course after the city council voted to rezone the land for nearly 300 new lots.
The golf course is scheduled to close by spring, but whether or not the restaurant will remain open remains uncertain. City officials say the goal of this project is to build affordable market-rate homes to draw more people to the city. (WSBT 22 Photo){ }{ }
With a unanimous vote, the Lennar Homes of Indiana now has approval to build a residential subdivision on the soon-to-close Briar Leaf Golf Course.
This follows the approval of specific variances for lot sizes on the 116 acres of land, with each home to be built on more than 1500 square feet.
“I view it as if you have to grow, or you are dying. And so, we need more housing, we always known we need more housing. And it is always welcomed by the community, but it gets a little difficult when it is in your backyard, that I understand that,” says Tim Franke, City of LaPorte Council At Large.
The golf course is scheduled to close by spring, but whether or not the restaurant will remain open remains uncertain.
City officials say the goal of this project is to build affordable market-rate homes to draw more people to the city.
With new economic development coming near LaPorte, this creates housing opportunities for workers.
“Hearing directly from the community members that live there on how responsive they have been to them and answering their questions, and their willingness to involve the plans to make sense for the community has been really impressive to see,” says Franke.
The golf course is scheduled to close by spring, but whether or not the restaurant will remain open remains uncertain. City officials say the goal of this project is to build affordable market-rate homes to draw more people to the city. (The Lennar Homes of Indiana Photo){ }
Not everyone in attendance supported Monday’s vote.
Some homeowners raised concerns over increased pollution, loss of wildlife, and a burden on public utilities.
“We don’t really want to see LaPorte force to grow, we would like to see a natural growth, we like our small town, and we don’t want it to be huge,” says one resident.
“Unfortunately, they (The Lennar Homes of Indiana) can’t say yes to everything. And sometimes what one neighbor wants, may be different from what another neighbor wants,” says Bert Cook, LaPorte’s Economic Advancement Partnership ED.
The final design for the development is still in the works.
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City officials expect the new residential development to start soon, potentially with construction beginning this spring.