Heritage Harbor homeowners will get their first detailed look at the price tag of shutting down the community golf course for five months when the CDD board holds a public hearing Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 5:30 p.m. at Heritage Harbor Clubhouse in Lutz.
The full agenda packet posted Monday, Aug. 10, shows the district estimates $420,000 in maintenance and pro shop costs during the closure, broken down as $55,000 per month in maintenance ($275,000 total) and $29,000 per month in pro shop operations ($145,000 total) from May through September 2027. The packet is labeled a draft pending board acceptance.
The closure is tied to a greens replacement project the five-member board approved unanimously May 22. Supervisors Jeffrey Witt and David Hubbard moved and seconded the motion. Contractor Mondragon will begin killing existing turf around April 1, 2027, with the course expected to close by late April and reopen around the end of September after 10 to 12 weeks of growing time for new TifEagle grass. The contract totals $537,939.33, including a performance bond.
The greens have shrunk 35% to 40% over time, from 115,000 square feet to 82,114. The replacement restores them to original size.
Despite the closure costs, the proposed FY 2027 budget carries no increase in operations and maintenance assessments, according to the May 22 meeting minutes.
Capital spending on the table
Beyond the budget vote, the board will consider three capital proposals totaling $35,547.50:
- $17,857.50 to Pitch Roofing to reseal the clubhouse exterior
- $9,850 to Fountain Kings to repair, clean and seal the community water feature
- $7,840 to Greenview Landscaping for 160 jatropha plants and 2,000 square feet of sod at the main entrance
The board will also ratify a $4,200 change order for stump removal on the reclaimed water meter project. Chair Shelley Grandon approved the change order by email July 27 after contractor Tom Prickett of Rayco Industrial reported the stumps were not included in the original proposal. "Yes, I approve," Grandon wrote in the July 27 email authorizing the work.
VGM, the golf cart lender, has agreed to defer up to three months of lease payments during the closure, spreading them over the remaining lease term.
How to weigh in
The hearing is open to the public at 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway, Lutz, FL 33558. Residents can also dial in at 1-904-348-0776, Conference ID 684 257 747#. Questions can go to district manager Heath Beckett at (321) 263-0132 x536 or [email protected].
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 5:30 p.m. at the clubhouse.
