ROME CITY — The Rome City Plan Commission sent a negative recommendation about a proposed zoning change on part of a former golf course, but Town Council members disagreed and approved it Monday evening after hearing about 45 minutes of discussion.
The approval clears the way for the current owner, Noble Trails Inc., to sell what used to be the northern half of the Limberlost Golf Club to a private owner.
Noble Trails will use the proceeds from the sale of the 39 acres, about $350,000, to further its mission of establishing trails across Noble County.
The change had drummed up opposition from some in the community who didn't want to see the land sold and developed, but after hearing presentations from Dr. Terry Gaff, president of Noble Trails, and a convincing presentation from an attorney representing the buyers, town council members overruled the plan commission's recommendation.
Noble Trails has owned the north end of the former golf course since March 2020, when it was donated to the nonprofit trails group from former owner Limberlost Properties LLC.
In 2018, club ownership announced it was closed for the summer season for “retooling,” but the course never reopened. By that summer, the town had filed a tall grass and weeds complaint and were planning to enforce upkeep of the property despite it being out of use.
Noble Trails’ Fishing Line trail runs along the west edge of the property from its start on Lions Drive to the north and drops off on C.R. 900. The trail then picks up on the east side of south property of the former golf course and continues on its way southeast to Kendallville.
That south portion of the old Limberlost Golf Club, which includes the former clubhouse building, is not owned by Noble Trails, but was instead sold to private owners in fall 2020.
The zoning change would allow a buyer to purchase the property and divide it for construction of two homes.
Concerned citizens raised issue with the potential change, citing fears of a large housing development or airing wishes that the land be made into a public park or nature preserve.
On Monday, Gaff said the group had originally explored ideas of making the land available for public use but neither worked out.
Rome City said it didn't want the land for a park as the town already has five parks and doesn't have the means to keep up a sixth, especially one at 39 acres.
Gaff said he had also reached out recently to ACRES Land Trust, but that they only work with larger plots of land for preserves. Even if ACRES did take it, the property would not be open to the public.
"ACRES Incorporated would not be interested in obtaining a property that was less than 50 acres," Gaff said. "They were currently closing small properties. ... We explored that avenue and came up dry."
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