A former golf course near Pataskala, Ohio, about 30 minutes east of the state capital of Columbus, is the site of a new home complex.
High Lands Golf Club, which closed in 2019, was just sold for $2.5 million to AV Investment LLC. On December 30, the move was completed.
High Lands first opened its doors in 1957. In 2014, Kassel Equity purchased the course and spent the next two years renovating both the course and the clubhouse. It was one of the most affordable clubs at the time, and it had been transformed to semi-private status so that the general public may play.
“I want to convey my gratitude for your continued support, not only during my time here, but for the many years that most of you have been a part of the High Lands Golf Club family,” David Steckel, the club’s interim general manager, wrote upon the club’s closing in 2019.
For the approximately 160-acre site, a proposal to rezone the area from agricultural to planned development district has been presented to the Pataskala Planning and Zoning Commission. The Meadows at Highlands, a single-family home development, would benefit from the rezoning.
The development would include two full access points on Hollow Road SW and one emergency and maintenance-only access point on Alward Road SW, all of which would be in the Licking Heights Local Schools District.
According to Joe Clase, principal of land use consultant Plan 4 Land, who submitted the rezoning proposal on behalf of his clients at AV Investment LLC, The Meadows at Highlands will comprise lots ranging in size from 2-4 acres, with more than 75 acres of the property remaining as open space.
During the Dec. 1 planning and zoning commission meeting, Clase stated that all open spaces would be maintained with funds from a homeowners association, and that the property owners expect the golf course’s maintenance facility to continue to maintain the development’s more than 80 acres of open space.
The community was supposed to have 24 lots and a 12-acre park in the middle, according to the original designs. Clase, however, said that after presenting their plans at the Dec. 1 meeting, the development may need to add a few more lots and the park may not be built because more acreage is required to meet the West Licking Joint Fire District’s traffic regulations.
He explained, “We’re just trying to figure out what it’s going to look like and how we can answer everyone’s worries.”
The commission postponed action on the rezoning proposal because it needed more information on stormwater management, minimum square footage for dwellings, buffering around the development’s perimeter, and other issues.
Clase stated that efforts are now being made to address any remaining questions concerning the development. He expects to resubmit the rezoning proposal by Feb. 4 so that it can be considered by the planning and zoning commission at its March 2 meeting.
“At this point, we just need to iron out some technical aspects to make sure the board is still satisfied with the lot layout and design,” Clase said. “Hopefully, we’ll obtain that in March so we can start going forward with it.”
