WEST BOCA RATON, Fla. – A West Boca Raton golf course overgrown and unkept was listed for sale. This after a years-long battle ended with developers getting the okay to build on the old Mizner Trail course.
Homeowners in the Boca Del Mar neighborhoods, most of whom opposed development on the old course, are meeting Wednesday to discuss the latest.
“It’s not a golf course, it’s a weed factory,” explains Brian Feldman.
He did not sign up for overgrowth and three-feet tall weeds when he moved to a golf course.
“Coming from up north, [a golf course] was our idea of what Florida was all about,” he admits.
Today, the fairways and greens are all rough.
In June 2014, Palm Beach County leaders gave developers from Compson Associates the green light to build more than 200 residential units on the old course.
But county records show developers haven’t submitted any plans with the zoning division since getting the go-ahead.
And now, residents are learning the property was up for sale. We reached out to Compson Associates to find out what its plans are with the area, but never heard back.
Feldman says in the meantime the course has grown wild and cries for help have gone unanswered.
The county’s code enforcement director says officers regularly inspect the property and it is up to code. He points out the code does not limit how high weeds and grass can grow on vacant lots larger than 0.5 acres. He adds the property has the required mowed, 25-feet boundary between the tall vegetation and any homes.
He says the developers paid a $42,634.68 fine related to a 2007 violation which was resolved in 2008.
“It’s not as beautiful as it used to be,” says RJ Versaggi.
He’s lived in Boca Del Mar since 1997, across a canal from the old golf course.
He is patient. He says it’ll all be better once the developer starts building, and he’s hopeful any potential new owner would want to build new homes on the property.
“I think it will be good for the community, I think it will increase the value of homes in the community,” he says.