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Making Another Pitch For Minigolf

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By GEORGE WILKENS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2007

Updated: 09/17/2007 05:22 pm

PEBBLE CREEK - The long-delayed plan to build a miniature golf course in Pebble Creek is scheduled to proceed in October with a zoning hearing before the Hillsborough County Commission.

Anticipating interest - and continuing opposition - to the minigolf proposal he announced in 2005, owner/operator Bill Place has launched a Web site, mgnewtampa.blogspot.com, to explain his revised plan, solicit comments and respond to questions.

'We've made some huge changes' in plans for the forest-themed course since the proposal was introduced, Place said. 'It's going to be completely flat,' unlike most other minigolf courses with which people are familiar.

The illustrated Miniature Golf in New Tampa blog, which was launched Sept. 11, details plans for the course on 1 acre at the community's entry.

Minigolf is an ideal addition, said Place, whose family-owned company, Ace Golf, operates other local courses and has pumped $1 million into the 40-year-old Pebble Creek Golf Course since buying it in November 2005. 'It will help attract more families as members and more New Tampa families to the club,' he said.

The project will cost $400,000, Place said.

After Place took over, the Pebble Creek Homeowners Association hired a lawyer specializing in land-use and real estate law to help fight his minigolf proposal.

At a May 2006 meeting that drew more than 100 residents, association President Tanya Heires warned that minigolf would bring traffic, noise, vandalism and other crime.

'I know they're still planning to oppose us,' Place said. 'But I've had an opportunity to meet with a lot more people since we first started and to listen to what all their concerns are.'

The 18-hole course was rerouted following a tree survey, designed around the existing 70-plus trees on the property at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Regents Park Drive, requiring removal of only a few of the smaller trees and none of the grandfather oaks, he said.

The course utilizing natural landscaping, not windmills, fiberglass animals or other such decor, he said, will be set back 30 to 80 feet from Regents Park Drive and 30 feet from a creek on the property.

The county hearing to allow Place to build on the parcel zoned 'planned development, mixed use' is for minigolf only; there will be no batting cages, game arcade or other recreation, Place said.

Heires, the homeowners association president, could not be reached for comment.

Former association President Mike Carricato, however, said he viewed the blog, and he and many of his neighbors remain opposed.

'I think it will be a detriment to the community. It's not like this is going to be unobtrusive,' he said.

'The main objection I have is that the minigolf course at night is certainly going to be obvious to anybody coming in the north entrance to Pebble Creek.'

Vandalism to tennis courts, reckless driving and littering are already problems in the 1,049-home community south of Wharton High School, Carricato said.

Place is not responsible for problems beyond his own property, but 'The rest of the community is the one who's going to suffer if we have problems with those kinds of vandals,' Carricato said.

Discouraged by opposition to the miniature golf course, Place initially explored other uses for the land near the clubhouse.

The zoning hearing was repeatedly postponed while Place marketed the property he listed in August 2006. Place said potential buyers envisioned using the site for a mortgage company, Indian restaurant, ministorage and medical office.

This year, the $699,000 asking price was cut to $599,000, then $529,000, but there were no takers.

According to Place and his blog:

•There will be no public address system.

•There will be a decorative, aluminum-slat fence along Regents Park Drive (similar to fencing at the community pool).

•One small unlighted sign will be on the fence.

•Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

•Shoebox-style lights aimed downward will be no higher than 30 feet.

•A gazebo (150 square feet or less) will be the only building.

•The sidewalk and bridge to the community recreation center will remain.

•Existing parking (126 spaces) exceeds requirements.

If the county approves the project, construction would begin early next year, with a March or April opening, Place said.

The public hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9 in the county commission meeting room on the second floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4847 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

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