Major Expansion Planned At Miniature Golf Site In Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A miniature golf and batting cage complex in Southington could be redeveloped into a new golf simulator/mini golf site with a retail facility, with the batting cages demolished.

That is according to plans being reviewed this month by the Southington Planning and Zoning Commission.

During a May 5 meeting, commissioners continued a public hearing on a special permit application submitted by Cote Range 2.0 LLC for redevelopment of the former Golf Quest property on Jude Lane.

The proposal calls for demolishing the site’s former batting cages and constructing a 12,000-square-foot steel-frame building containing retail space and indoor golf simulators.

The property is now owned by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop, based in Portland. The former Golf Quest facility closed in September 2025 pending new development there.

Bill Stango, a professional engineer with Cedar Civil LLC representing the applicant, said the project would redevelop underused portions of the property while maintaining the site’s existing golf-related uses.

According to project plans, approximately 7,000 square feet of the building would be used for retail operations, and about 5,000 square feet would house a virtual golf facility.

Stango said miniature golf would remain on-site as a secondary use connected to golf club fittings and recreational activities.

“The expectation is a lot of traffic for summer use towards the retail side and virtual golf picking up during the winter,” Stango told commissioners.

Plans also include reuse of the site’s existing parking lot and upgrades to stormwater infrastructure through expansion of an existing detention basin.

Southington PZC Vice Chairman Todd Chaplinsky asked whether the proposed stormwater system would fully address runoff from the new building.

Stango said no fill or modifications are proposed within the flood storage area and said stormwater would be directed into an existing management facility elsewhere on the property.

PZC Chairman Steve Walowski also asked about ongoing wetlands review issues connected to the project.

Acting Planning and Community Development Director David Lavallee said town staff requested revisions involving a retaining wall to reduce potential impacts near wetlands and within the upland review area.

Lavallee said the wetlands review by the Southington Conservation Commission is expected to continue before the commission’s next meeting.

Because a determination from the conservation commission is still pending, the PZC voted to keep the public hearing open.

According to planning documents, the recreational expansion is permitted in the site’s industrial zone through a special permit process.

A zoning variance was previously approved allowing up to 60% of the building’s floor area to be dedicated to retail use.

For the minutes of the March 5 Southington Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

For all documents related to the 65 Jude Lane application, click on this link.