Plan to add homes along Rocklin golf course denied - KCRA Sacramento

The Rocklin City Council voted unanimously early Wednesday morning not to allow rezoning along a golf course in the city.

In a 5-0 vote that came just after midnight, the council denied plans proposed by Rocklin Golf Club owner Charlie Gibson that would allow new homes to be built near the fourth green and fifth tee.

Rocklin residents packed the city council meeting Tuesday night to voice their thoughts, as some concerned opponents said the new construction would add traffic and hurt their property values.

"Once the Rocklin open space is gone, it's gone forever -- no matter how small it is," said one opponent of the plan.

For Carol Ellis, it's all about preserving the open space near her home.

"To have that rezoned just so some developer can build a few houses and make a few dollars would set an awful precedent," Ellis said.

However, Gibson and his staff said building homes is the only way to generate revenue and keep the course -- which has been part of the community for 53 years -- around for future generations.

"If the housing development comes through then they're not going to close any of the course," said John Keller, assistant superintendent of the Rocklin Golf Club. "They're going to continue to thrive and make it an even better place than it is now."

Gibson and the other club owners wanted the city to approve their plan to build 38 homes around the 185-acre property. In all, the housing would impact two acres of greens.

"I'm a golf club operator," Gibson said. "I've worked really hard with support in the community to have this be a golf course."

Owners said they fear they will have to shut down the golf course entirely if they can't get the area zoned as residential.

"I'm 100 percent for this project," said one supporter of the plan during public comment. "I do think we need to be business-friendly in Rocklin. This golf course has enhanced our properties for years and years."

The city's planning commission had already denied the rezoning plan, but the City Council had final say at Tuesday's meeting.

KCRA's Leticia Ordaz contributed to this report.

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