Woodbridge Narrows Options for Future of Country Club of Woodbridge Site

WOODBRIDGE, CT — Town officials are considering a new golf course or open space for the 155-acre Country Club of Woodbridge property, following a decision by the Board of Selectmen this week.

In a post on the town website, the board spelled out the reasons for its decision, which included turning down a proposal by Toll Brothers to build a senior housing complex at the site.

Additionally, after Dec. 31, the annual contract between Woodbridge and Billy Casper Golf, current operators of the course, will expire and will not be renewed.

Instead, the town will concentrate on either selling the property to Redan Reserve to construct a new golf course, or retain the property as open space.

Below is the full announcement from the Board of Selectmen:

The Woodbridge Board of Selectmen has decided not to pursue the Toll Brothers proposal for active adult housing on the Country Club of Woodbridge property.

At a special Board meeting on Monday Aug. 1, the Board decided not to pursue the Toll proposal at this time because of zoning and other concerns. Toll Brothers had said they would not go forward without approval from at least a majority of the Board.

“Given the concerns of Board members it was clear we weren’t going to meet that threshold,” said First Selectman Ellen Scalettar.

The Board also decided not to continue golf operations at the Country Club of Woodbridge past Dec. 31, when the contract with Billy Casper Golf expires. Billy Casper had submitted a proposal for a one-year contract that would require the Town to take on the risk of the operation.

“This arrangement proved disastrous for the Town in years past,” said Scalettar. “One of my first accomplishments as First Selectman was to shift the risk from the Town to Billy Casper. I’m glad that the Board unanimously agreed not to return to that old model.”

The Board also unanimously decided to continue looking into two options: Pursue negotiations with Redan Reserve, which has proposed buying the entire Country Club of Woodbridge property for $3.5 million. Redan Reserve would redesign the golf course to become a “top 100” golf course in conjunction with a renovation of the nearly contiguous Yale Golf Course. The proposal includes a hotel to be built on the Yale Golf Course and is contingent upon approvals from both Yale and the City of New Haven.

The second option the Board will explore is converting the property to open space. The Board asked for a more detailed analysis of the costs associated with such change and maintenance needs going forward.
The Board of Selectmen hosted a public information forum in late July for residents to hear from both Toll Brothers and Redan Reserve and make comments and ask questions.

“I am pleased to have been able to bring two proposals worthy of consideration to the public and that nearly 300 residents turned out to hear about them,” said First Selectman Ellen Scalettar. “At the public informational meeting there was a great deal of interest in the Redan Reserve proposal whereas Toll Brothers’ proposal elicited more concerns, despite its financial merits. We will continue to explore the intriguing Redan proposal while we also review the details on what it would take to convert to open space.”

Both proposals and other information related to the future of the Country Club of Woodbridge can be found on the Town’s website at woodbridgect.org/CCWFuture.