PennLive published an article on future plans for Blue Ridge Golf Club. Text is below or you can CLICK HERE to view the article on PennLive.
Houses, stores and more proposed for closing Blue Ridge Golf Club
Updated Feb 2, 2017; Posted Feb 1, 2017
By Christian Alexandersen
CAlexandersen@pennlive.com
Developers announced plans to build assisted living facilities, townhouses, single-family homes, stores and a park overtop the soon-to-closed Blue Ridge Golf Club.
The plan - which was presented at the Lower Paxton Township Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday -- calls for closing the 132-acre golf course in November and redeveloping it. The plan for the property is to have four different, distinct sections - commercial, residential, assisted living and recreation.
But in order to make this development happen, changes have to be made to the township's Residential-Retirement Development zoning.
Charles Courtney, of McNeese, Wallace and Nurick, said any proposed changes would add flexibility for the developers in terms of what is allowed for retirement communities and commercial opportunities.
Courtney said the closure of the golf course is part of a larger national trend. The golf industry is struggling, so golf course owners are looking for redevelopment.
The plan for the property is to have four different, distinct sections - commercial, residential, assisted living and a park
Courtney said the owner of the golf course has signed an agreement with Signature Senior Living to build an assisted living and memory care housing facility. The 93-bed facility would have 49 beds for assisted living and 44 beds for memory care.
The development would also include four apartment buildings with a total of 160 units, 112 townhouses and 106 single-family homes.
Courtney spoke about making the residences age-restricted, which led many planning commissioners to suggest ideas for making homes better for those that choose to age-in-place.
Those ideas included step less entryways, flat parking and entry surfaces as well as wider doorways and hallways. Commissioner W. Roy Newsome spoke about the importance of considering "visit-ibility" when making the development.
The commercial section of the development could include a number of businesses along Linglestown Road. Courtney said the types of businesses that could locate there include restaurants, retail shops and a grocery store.
The developers are already in talks to turn the existing clubhouse into a restaurant with a distillery, he said.
The last component is a 30-acre park near Dover Road. Courtney presented an illustration that appeared to show five soccer-field-sized parcels in the park. Courtney said the park could be used for active and passive uses.
The plan application has been submitted and will be on the commission's agenda in March. The Dauphin County Planning Commission will discuss the issue during their March 6 meeting.