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Developer proposes 418‑unit Lakeville Country Club senior community with public nine‑hole golf course
Summary
Thornike Development told the Parks Commission it plans a 418‑unit senior‑focused community at the Lakeville Country Club that would retain a public nine‑hole golf course, offer on‑site amenities and propose mitigation payments to the town; the developer says a peer fiscal study shows roughly $2.1 million in net annual tax revenue at buildout.
Thornike Development representatives presented a plan to the Parks Commission on March 12 to redevelop the Lakeville Country Club site into a senior‑oriented residential community and a refreshed public golf facility.
Michael Devon, director of community relations for Thornike Development, said the project would convert the existing 18‑hole course into a nine‑hole course with a driving range and pro shop and build about 418 residential units across nine buildings, mixing multifamily buildings (limited to three stories) and duplex homes. "We see a ton of synergy between our community and what you all do," Devon told commissioners, describing the proposal as a way to create a walkable streetscape and shared recreation spaces.
Why it matters: Thornike framed the development as a response to Lakeville’s aging demographics and a local shortage of appropriately sized housing to allow older residents to downsize. The company argued that freeing up existing single‑family homes would allow younger families to move into town and support local recreation and leagues.
Thornike said the project would include a clubhouse and restaurant overlooking the site’s waterways, active green space and walking paths, and that the on‑site pool and some amenities would likely be governed by an HOA. A resident asked whether nonresidents could buy memberships to the pool; the developer said that amenity access would be negotiated and could be handled through HOA rules or town agreements.
The developer also told the commission it was negotiating a master development agreement with the select board and town manager and expects mitigation payments tied to that agreement. In response to a question about fiscal impacts, Devon said a peer reviewer’s fiscal‑impact study estimates about $2.1 million in net property tax revenue to the town at full buildout; he said the town is currently peer‑reviewing that study.
Commissioners and residents pressed the developer on walkability and access. Thornike proposed applying for state grants to fund a multimodal bike/ped connection to Ted Williams Park; the developer said parts of the site would be a short bike ride for some residents but acknowledged many routine trips would still require cars. Several commissioners noted safety concerns on existing roadways and emphasized the role of grant funding and town approvals in any off‑site connectivity work.
The developer said it has already begun outreach, will meet regularly with a select‑board task force, and welcomes the parks commission’s input on priorities it should raise during master‑development negotiations. The company cited an existing community it built, "Featherwinds," as a design precedent and suggested mitigation funds could be used to improve local parks and sports fields.
Next steps: Thornike said it is continuing outreach, will negotiate the master development agreement with town officials and task force members, and will return with refinements and responses to commission priorities. The commission did not take any formal vote on the proposal at the March 12 meeting.
