Farmingville, NY - Rockhill Golf and Country Club in Manorville is the first private golf course to be rezoned Golf Course District (GCD), a new zoning code recently implemented by Brookhaven Town officials under the guidance and leadership of Councilman Dan Panico. The Town Board unanimously approved Rockhill’s zone change from A1 Residential to GCD at its April 27 Board Meeting.
Councilman Panico worked closely with the Town’s law department to craft a code that would serve to protect Brookhaven’s golf courses, both publicly and privately owned, from future development, and in doing so, also provided golf course owners with additional accessory uses than what was previously permitted.
“By creating this code, we have protected the vistas, open spaces and commercial recreational opportunities that coincide with golf courses, as well as the character of the communities where they exist,” said Councilman Panico. “This move eliminates the potential of seeing another golf course plowed under for an as of right housing development that could substantially burden school district taxpayers, while giving a golf course owner more as of right uses to keep them viable well into the future.”
The Town previously rezoned two of its own courses at Mill Pond and Rolling Oaks.