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Development foes resolute in opposition
by Johnny Whitfield, Wake Weekly Associate Editor
If Centex Homes hopes to win the support of neighbors for its plans to build homes on the Wake Forest Golf Club site, it has a big job ahead of it.
More than 100 devout opponents of that plan turned out for a meeting Tuesday night at The Forks Cafeteria to learn what is being done to build opposition to the plan. "I expect this will be a full-time job for a lot of people this year," said Wanda Muhkerjee, president of the Riverstone Homeowners' Association. Muhkerjee and other members of an executive committee reported on what several subcommittees have learned so far. For most of the meeting, the leaders of those committees discussed potential obstacles that can be thrown in front of Centex Homes' plans, including concerns about the negative impact on property values, environmental threats and added pressure on infrastructure such as schools and roads. Jim Robertson, who leads the group's public relations committee, said the group should remain focused on the goal of preserving the golf course. "We've gotten a letter from Centex and we've had an opportunity to respond to them. We want to open a dialogue and keep it open," Robertson said. Steve Monteith said neighbors may hope to save the golf course, but he says other factors will weigh heavily on that goal. "As much as we want to save the golf course, we probably will talk a lot about water and the environment in order to do that," Monteith said. While the tenor of the conversation Tuesday night was largely anti-development, there were some plaudits given to Centex Homes, the company that wants to buy the property and build homes on the land. "To say they're not going to build high-end houses is just wrong," said Nyle Wadford, a builder who has worked on other Centex Homes' projects. "I talked to (Centex Division President) Hampton (Pitts) as late as Sunday and they do have big plans, but he said there is still a lot of research to do." Muhkerjee said golf course owner Joe Young had made no secrets of his efforts to sell the golf course, and she said opponents of Centex's plans to build homes on the golf course should look for ways to partner with Centex and Young to preserve the golf course as open space. "I personally don't think Mr. Young is doing this to stab us in the back. He just wants to get out of the golf course business," Muhkerjee said. Others weren't so sure of Young's commitment to preserving the area as a golf course. "When I first joined several years ago, the golf course was doing 40,000 rounds a year. Now that's down to just 28,000. That's because he hasn't put the investment in keeping the course up," said Jack Sowisdral. Larry Lineberg, whose committee is charged with searching for golf course management companies willing to take over the day-to-day operations of the course if neighbors can scuttle Centex's plans, disputed arguments that the golf course couldn't be profitable. "Mr. Young has said it was a bad financial proposition. But we don't agree with him on that point," said Lineberg. Hubert Jenks, who heads up the opposition to the Centex purchase, said committees will continue to research aspects of residential development on the golf course, but he encouraged the crowd to get involved. "We want you to sign up for one of our committees and help us gather the information we're going to need to stop this," Jenks said. John Brewer, another member of the group's executive committee, said neighbors of the golf course have allies on the town commission who he believes will help residents preserve the golf course. "There was a good slate of candidates elected to the town commission during the last election on a slow-growth platform. We're confident that they will make good decisions when this comes before them," Brewer said. Commissioners Frank Drake and Margaret Stinnett were elected last fall. A third commissioner, David Camacho, also lives on the golf course. Centex Homes' representatives have met with the town's planning department staff, but there have been no formal plans submitted for review. The property does not have to be rezoned in order for residential development to take place, but commissioners would have to approve the development plan before work could go forward. Centex is expected to spend the next several months researching the property before the sale is completed.
Last Updated On: March 16, 2006
Copyright 2006 The Wake Weekly