The remaining 22.15 acres of the former Seymour Country Club is on its way to becoming single-family homes.

Members of the Seymour Plan Commission voted 8-0 during a special meeting Wednesday to rezone the 1000 block of Shields Avenue from parks and open space to single-family residential (R-1) zoning.

Commissioners Gary Colglazier and Don Bruce did not attend the meeting. The petition will be presented to the city council Oct. 28.

The property is the last portion of real estate between 14th Street and 16th Street and west of Shields Avenue owned by Seymour resident Jerry Edwards of Beecher Investments.

In February, the plan commission approved the rezoning of 5.2 acres of the former golf course property located at State Road 11 and 14th Street to R-2 for the development of a 57,000-square-foot, 56-unit assisted living facility.

Four months later, the same board approved the rezoning of 5.33 acres along 15th Street and Shields Avenue to R-3 for the construction of 10 duplexes.

Attorney Bill Braman spoke Wednesday on behalf of Edwards in the most recent petition.

Braman said Edwards tried to sell the property as a golf course last year but had no buyers.

“The use of a golf course on this property is no longer practical or feasible,” he said. “We believe the proposed use of this site for single-family residences is consistent with adjacent residential uses. We believe it makes the most sense.”

Braman said the rezone will not adversely affect any of the nearby properties.

“Jerry’s goal with this property has been to make sure it’s developed in a way that is consistent with the surrounding neighborhood and that it will be a use that will add to the tax base,” Braman said.

Drainage and utilities have been reviewed for the property, and it is believed the site is adequately served by existing infrastructure to permit single-family residential homes, he added.

No decisions have been made at this time about how many lots will be developed, Braman said.

“But we will commit to you that when the time comes and builders or developers are selected and more finalized plans are produced that we will work with (the city) to comply with whatever subdivision requirements will apply at that time as well as requirements for the issuance of building permits,” he said.

Only one person spoke up about the proposal, sharing concerns about the increase in traffic a housing addition will cause in the area.

Braman said the development is still in the preliminary phase, but there are no plans at this time to add new streets.

Edwards will have to submit a development plan to the city later for approval.

City engineer Bernie Hauersperger suggested a mini park also be included in the development because of the increase in children from a single-family subdivision.

“I don’t like the idea of kids trying to get to Shields Park and have to cross State Road 11,” Hauersperger said.

Although he hadn’t thought of adding a park on the property, Edwards said he would consider it.