This week, Ellicott Development held a public information meeting about a housing project, tentatively called Sunset View at Point Chautauqua, which would be installed at the former Chautauqua Point Golf Course.

There are three separate sections – one for single family homes, one for town houses, and one of a condominium-style residential unit. Also on the property would be a restaurant.

Developers said the earliest things would start would be mid to late next year and it would likely take at least three years, possibly longer, to complete.

They still need to get approvals from the town zoning board, a special use permit from the town board, as well as permission from the state Comptroller’s Office for the proposed Homeowners Association.

A large crowd gathered this week at the Chautauqua Municipal Building to hear about plans to convert the former Chautauqua Point Golf Course into an upscale housing project. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

The public information meeting took place at the Chautauqua Municipal Building in the old Mayville gym. There appeared to be close to 100 people in attendance. All of the chairs that were set out were used and many more people stood during the nearly two-hour meeting.

The first 30 minutes the developers gave a powerpoint presentation of both their business as well as how they plan to develop the property in Dewittville. After that, nearby residents peppered the developers with various questions, with some calling on them to end the proposal now.

For the next hour, residents spoke out touching on a number of concerns including how the housing would impact their view to the lake, noise from the future restaurant, additional traffic, if there was enough water to serve the project, how the sewage would be handled, what will happen to the property if they don’t find enough buyers, and how the development would impact the health of Chautauqua Lake.

The majority of the residents in attendance live in Chautauqua Lake Estates, Point Chautauqua, or the Villas at Chautauqua Point, all which border the former golf course and have much more lake access than the golf course property. There also were other Chautauqua town residents, including some neighbors who live across the street on Route 430.

Some local town officials were present as well, but did not speak.

Tom Fox with Ellicott Development noted that no engineering has been done yet. Everything presented was “high level” and may be adjusted based on concerns raised.

One resident felt the project doesn’t belong in the local area. “This would be great in Buffalo. All your experience is in Buffalo but now you’re in a rural area. You’re trying to create a high density, high urban setting in a very rural area,” he said.

He called on Ellicott Development to donate the property to the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. The entire room burst out in applause after the comment. “This ain’t Buffalo. We come here to escape,” he said.

One of Ellicott Development’s LLC’s bought the golf course in 2023 for $2.2 million. They also spent another $400,000 on neighboring parcels.

Before Ellicott Development bought it, it was sold a year before that for a little over $1 million. That buyer decided to sell it before presenting a plan for the property.

It had been available for purchase since 2020, when golf course owner Stephen Elliott said he decided to sell it after his son, who had managed the golf course, had passed away. He had owned the property since 1996.

Fox, along with attorney Sean Hopkins with Hopkins, Sorgi & McCarthy, PLLC, insisted the housing development would fit the characteristics of the neighborhood. They also said this project will be better for the environment because golf courses take a lot more water and chemicals to treat their grass.

One resident expressed concerns that those who live at Sunset View at Point Chautauqua will trespass on neighboring properties, especially since the former golf course has very limited access to Chautauqua Lake.

Another resident agreed. He complained about the proposed name – “Sunset View at Point Chautauqua” – saying that it is too similar to Point Chautauqua, and that the similar names may cause trespassing.

Hopkins thanked them for expressing their concern and added that they were taking notes for everything made to see what they do to address the concerns. He said the name Sunset View at Point Chautauqua isn’t set in stone and could be changed.

He added that once the plans are more formalized, they will be brought before the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals and town board for the necessary approvals, which will include formal public hearings.

Fox said they hope to have the powerpoint presentation of the project up on Ellicott Development’s website sometime next week.