An appeals court made the ruling Wednesday after plans to build 250 plus homes were squashed.
PEBBLE CREEK, Fla. — Homeowners who do not want to see more houses go up on a closed golf course in Hillsborough County got a win in appellate court.
An appellate court ruled against the potential to rezone the Pebble Creek Golf Course for residential purposes.
“People are so happy that their hard work paid off,” said Leslie Green of “Save Pebble Creek.”
A plan to rezone the area and build more than 250 single-family homes was squashed by Hillsborough County commissioners in 2023. The debate then went to court where a civil court ruled in the favor of G.L. Acquisitions Corporation.
However, the appellate court ruled the circuit courted departed from the essential requirements of the law by basing its review on a finding that the board did not make, squashing the circuit court’s order and preventing the developer not to build.
Critics of the proposal cited loss of the area’s character as the main concern amid a rise in growth in Hillsborough County and other parts of Florida. Proponents also cited added congestion, impact on the environment and loss of green space as concerns.
Green, a resident of more than 30 years, said she hopes the golf course can be revived through another operator.
“This will allow us to keep that same character,” Green said. “Our hope is to work with the landowner to try to find a mutually agreeable way that we can proceed.”
In 2023, supporters of the plan stated the plan could help increase property value, and that the closed golf course has been an eyesore in the community.
The golf course closed in 2021 after membership declines and costs associated, according to one complaint.
In a statement, attorney Jacob Cremer wrote the Pebble Creek landowner and GL Homes are reviewing the decision and considering various options for the next steps.
The full appeals court decision can be viewed below.