A significant residential development proposed for the former Centennial Country Club site was approved Wednesday by the Cascade Township Board of Trustees.

The next step for Meadowbrook Development Corp.’s $35-million plan for the golf course is to finalize the land sales and conveyances, a procedure that could take several months.

The former golf course is located on Cascade Road SE, just northwest of Cascade Township Park.

Centennial Park

Meadowbrook Development will transform the former golf course into a residential site with up to 250 new apartments and single-family homes.

The project will begin by building 120 rental units in 10 new buildings.

The construction plan also calls for a swimming pool, fitness room and clubhouse.

At the same time, the firm will set aside about a third of the course’s 85 acres as green space for its residents and neighbors to use at Centennial Park, the development’s name.

“I believe the new plan for Centennial Park will preserve the character and integrity of the neighborhood in a fashion that is consistent with the intent and spirit of the master plan,” Beckering said. “Centennial Park can and should continue to be a beautiful area with beautifully preserved open space and quality housing options.”

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Individual parcels “already under contract”

“Meadowbrook Development Corp. will be submitting lot-split applications to the township, so the existing property parcels will be divided up to reflect the new property boundaries, as have been agreed to in the redevelopment plan. We hope to have this process completed within a week or two,” said Chris Beckering, a spokesman for the development firm and the director of business development at Pioneer Construction, in an email to the Business Journal.

“Once the lot splits are completed, we will begin closing the pending sale transactions and conveying and exchanging the gifted open areas. Of the roughly 30 pieces of property that will be created upon arrival of the lot splits, all but one is already under contract,” he added.

Beckering also said one lot is still available at the site. It’s a 2.5-acre parcel on the southwest corner of Tahoe and Thornhills.

Construction

Beckering said he couldn’t provide an exact date when construction would begin at this point, because those decisions will ultimately be made by the various buyers who bought parcels from Meadowbrook Development.

“I think it is likely that you will see construction starting by next spring, possibly sooner in some areas,” he said.

Eight-month process

The country club closed last summer after operating for 26 years.

“This approval is the culmination of an eight-plus month effort that required the time and talents of many people,” Beckering said. “I would like to sincerely thank everyone who was involved with this project, including the Cascade Township Board, the planning commission board, the planning commission subcommittee and the township staff. I am also grateful to the neighboring condominium associations, their boards and their presidents.”

“This was not an easy process for any of us,” he said. “The willingness of most everyone to work though the disappointment and work together toward a mutually acceptable solution was truly appreciated.”