Will It Stay Or Will It Go? Royal Oak Residents Invited To Weigh In On Normandy Oaks Plans

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) Should Royal Oak sell part of Normandy Oaks Golf Club to make way for new development? Residents get their chance to sound off tonight at a public hearing on the issue.

Rick Sage, a golfer, said he would hate to see it close, but said he understands it can't keep losing money either.

"I saw some of the plans," he told WWJ's Rob Dewey. "Housing, commercial and soccer fields, a sledding hill, things like that, it's going to be green, I guess that's OK."

Royal Oak residents have the final say on the proposal. It's on the November 4  ballot.

Sage, a twice a week golfer and retired fire department captain, said he still likes to play Normandy Oaks.

"I like the course, I mean it's kind of bland, but it's in very good shape, but they lose $90,000 a year and how long can you do that?" Sage said. "I'm kind of mixed ... As long as they keep it a green space, most of it, I think it's probably a good thing for the city."

Plans include 50 new residential lots on 10 acres, with new houses in the $400,000 range. The rest would be preserved as a public park with soccer fields, a walking trail, and a water park. The city expects to get about $4 million from the sale of the lots, officials have said, and thousands in new tax revenue.

The public hearing is set for 7 p.m. tonight, July 9, at the Mahany/Meininger Senior Center, 3500 Marais. A conceptual plan will be on site for review.