Henrico ponders master plan for Belmont Golf Course; network conferences set
The destiny of a county-owned golfing direction in Henrico will be similarly explored this spring, with the public being given the danger of voice opinions on what’s to end up of the 124-acre assets. Henrico has scheduled network conferences as it starts to contemplate the advent of a grasp plan for the Belmont Golf Course at 1600 Hilliard Road. The money-losing golfing route has been inside the county’s possession because of the mid-Nineteen Seventies. It has been the situation of dialogue for two years as golfing lovers, real estate developers, and county management have aired thoughts for the quality use of the website. Neil Luther, director of Henrico’s Recreation and Parks Department, said the network conferences – April 16, April 30, and May 6 at Belmont – are the result of course given via county leaders after their annual retreat in January. “The route we were given changed into that it’s by no means been grasp planned before, so allow’s go and start getting network remarks, which includes using golf or something else,” Luther said. “Belmont is the handiest fundamental park belongings that have in no way gone via a master-plan method.”
Luther said a grasp plan could be crafted after the community conferences as a “reflection of citizen enters to set a conceptual plan for a property.” “It’s not written in stone. However, it offers tips approximately how belongings will be used, and it’s advocated with the aid of the board,” he stated. “It’s a blueprint going ahead,” Luther emphasized that this is simply the start of the method. “What we’ve been telling human beings (is that) those are the first actual of in all likelihood loads of community meetings to talk about the assets,” he stated. “There’s no instant selection that the county’s seeking to make,” Luther stated. The direction he’s been given is that the county does not currently intend to permit the Belmont assets to grow to be a challenge to industrial development.
Rather, it possibly could be explored for some recreational use, both golfing or some different park hobby. “I think this communication is probably long past due,” he said. “It can be painful at factors. However, I assume it’s very wholesome to talk approximately Belmont as each a golf course and park assets.” In the meantime, Luther stated Belmont is operating with the commercial enterprise as ordinary, as the course gears up for the spring golfing season. He said the route misplaced cash again in 2018, as it has each yr in view that 2000. The county final year sought proposals for doubtlessly farming out control of the direction to a private birthday party; however, because has canceled that technique, Luther said.
As for all likelihood, speak me factors on the network meetings, Luther expects there to be debate among golfers about the way to quality keep the use of Belmont as a golf course. One side of that debate will come from a collection of golf path architecture fans that wants to see Belmont’s format restored to capitalize on its ties to its unique fashion designer, famed course architect A.W. Tillinghast. “There’s a difference of opinion on what the golfing course wishes,” Luther stated. “I think we’ll listen to a few thrilling debates inside the golfing community.”
