Woodbridge Selectmen Table Golf Authority Creation

Woodbridge Selectmen said they weren't expecting so many residents to come out to a public hearing about the possible creation of a Woodbridge Golf Authority Wednesday night, but the town hall meeting room was overflowing with over 100 residents. The lucky bunch who was able to get into the room sat in chairs, on the floor, and even stood behind board members in the front of the room. Dozens more stood in the foyer, occassionally shouting for speakers to 'speak up.'

So many people, yet one common question: what is going on?

At its Oct. 12 meeting, the Board of Selectmen discussed in executive sesison the contract between the town and MDM Golf, the company that is managing the club. Negotiations are at an impasse, according to First Selectman Edward Sheehy, and as of January 1, the club will have no vendor. Also during executive session during the Oct. 12 meeting, the board discussed a proposal from Toll Brothers developers to purchase a piece of the golf club property bordering Woodfield Road and build a 58-unit active-adult development.

The board voted unanimously to call a special town meeting to be held on Wed., Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in The Center Gymnasium regarding the proposal sale of 19 +/- acres of Town owned property at 17 Woodfield Road to Toll Brothers for the development of housing for persons 55 years of age and over. The proposal has been scaled down to 17 acres and reconfigured as to not impact holes on the golf course. 

Sheehy said the reason for the public hearing was because, "We own this property and we're trying to do what is going to work for the town. It was not the consideration or response the board had to the development proposal that residents were most upset with; it was the speed at which the process is occuring that disturbed many."

 "Communication needs to be better," said resident Paul White. "Nobody here is anything but nervous. We have the same goals and there's no reason to slam dunk this project."

The selectmen did admit to feeling under the gun, since once there is no outside management of the club, there will be on income necessary to pay the $7 million debt on the property.

"If someone came up to us and said, 'Here's $7 million, I want to buy it,' we'd all be happy. But nobody is buying golf clubs right now. There is absolutely no market for them," said Sheehy.

Residents also asked if an 'authority,' which has much more decision-making power than a commission is appropriate and the board was receptive to the comments.

The sale and development proposal will be presented in an information meeting -- this one held a the Center Gym -- at 6 p.m.

Attached is a letter from Sheehy dated Nov. 7 and three videos featuring comment from Wednesday evening's meeting.