Charlotte County approves $3 million purchase of former Port Charlotte golf course for parkland

Charlotte County commissioners voted 4-0 Jan. 28 to approve a $3 million purchase agreement for 22400 Gleneagles Terrace, the former Port Charlotte Golf Course, with a 90-day due-diligence period and next steps for short-term site stabilization.

The county’s real estate services director, Stephen Kipper, told the board the purchase agreement is for $3,000,000 and that two appraisals averaged about $3.8 million. Kipper said staff performed a title search and reviewed a recorded deed restriction tied to the parcel; that restriction allows sale but requires the seller to set aside $1 million in escrow if the property is not used as a golf course.

County staff and commissioners described the purchase as a strategic opportunity to preserve more than 150 acres of centrally located open space in Port Charlotte. Facilities Director Travis Purdue said the site’s irrigation and pump system appears to be operational but that many structures were damaged by Hurricane Ian; staff estimated roughly $300,000 to demolish damaged buildings.

"That's their sprinkler system...the system itself was functioning," Purdue told commissioners during a site-review summary.

Deputy County Administrator Emily Lewis said the board will fund the acquisition from the county’s capital projects reserve; hurricane-recovery reserves are held separately and will not be used for this purchase. Staff said the county will perform a Phase I environmental assessment immediately and move to Phase II if any contamination is suspected; the Phase I work typically takes about two weeks.

Commissioners and staff said the county does not yet have a final plan for long-term operations and maintenance, and they stressed the purchase is an early step in a multi-year planning process. Commissioner comments emphasized community recreation and green-space preservation.

Commissioner Constance said the acquisition could support fields, trails or other community uses and cautioned that operations funding will be required. "I don't think we win with more tract homes," Constance said in support of preserving the land.

Staff described a next phase of work that would include an open, multi-department master-planning process and community engagement to identify uses and estimate long-term costs. Officials also raised options for funding future improvements, including potential expansion of the Parkside community redevelopment area (CRA) and use of tax increment financing (TIF) when appropriate.

The motion approved by the board authorized (A) the county to execute the purchase and sale agreement, (B) a budget adjustment of $3,000,000 from capital reserves, (C) the chair to sign closing documents and (D) related administrative actions. The board voted 4-0 to approve items A–D with Commissioner Bill Truax absent.

Commissioners and staff said they will return to the board with results from the environmental and title review, a demolition estimate and a recommended public-engagement schedule to develop a master plan for the site.

Votes at a glance

- Acquisition of 22400 Gleneagles Terrace (former Port Charlotte Golf Course): motion to approve purchase and associated budget adjustment approved 4-0 (Truax absent).

Speakers quoted or referenced in the article may be contacted through county administration for additional records or to request the full staff report, appraisals and title documents.