There's a change to the redevelopment plan for Wedgewood Golf Course. Here's the latest

The developers of the historic Wedgewood Golf Course are considering changes to their original plans as the economy and housing market shifts.

Lakeland's Planning and Zoning Board approved a minor modification to the site's Planned Unit Development that will allow Mulberry-based SJD Development the option to construct townhouses through the central core of the former golf course, instead of multi-family apartments as previously planned.

"We've all seen some changes in the economy and things going on in the economy including interest rates and demand," said Bart Allen, an attorney representing SJD Development. "We are trying to create additional flexibility for the site."

Under the approved modification, the developer will have the rights to build single-family attached units, commonly called townhouses, alongside or in place of the previously planned four-story apartment buildings. The proposed townhouses would be closest to Fairfield, Sandwedge Villas and Savannah Cottage of Lakeland.

"If this option was chosen, it would reduce the intensity of building substantially," Allen said. "There's a reduction of 168 units from multi-family to townhomes."

If the developers choose to strictly build townhomes, it would remove 10 multifamily-complex buildings, at three- to four-stories, from the original site plan and replace them with two-story buildings each containing four to six townhomes.

Residents who spoke at Tuesday morning's public hearing were generally pleased to hear the overall height of the buildings might be lower — as three- and four-story apartment buildings have remained controversial. A number of Fairfield residents are upset that development of the golf course could bring new homes or apartments a little more than 10 feet from their backdoors.

Allen said the developers are required to put in a landscaped buffer, fencing, trees and shrubs on the opposite side of the fence with some buffer space before the building. He estimated there will be a minimum of 40 to 50 feet between buildings.

Originally, SJD Development said the core of the former historic golf course immediately to the east of Carpenter's Way, Tracts 10 and 11, would be built in the first phase of development. Todd Vargo, a senior planner with Lakeland's Community and Economic Development, said the developers have given no indication that this will change.

SJD Development previously received approval to construct up to 96 townhomes on Tract 2 of Wedgewood Golf Course in December 2023. This would provide them the option of building straight townhouses, multi-family apartments or a mix of the housing styles as long as it remains no more than 230 total units to the northeast of Audubon Oaks, across the street from the Carpenters Home Cemetery.

Allen did not offer a timeline on when construction would begin on the golf course's redevelopment. Chuck Barmby, Lakeland's planning and transportation developer, said a development agreement that goes over needed roads and utilities is still in negotiation between city staff and the development team.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.

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