Triple S Planning Commission: Persimmon Ridge looking to expand residential area

Since developing the original master concept for Persimmon Ridge Golf Course and community, Lawren Just, along with her late husband, Elmore, had planned to have two championship-quality golf courses on the property.

But at Tuesday’s Triple S Planning Commission meeting, Just instead will ask to designate the nearly 200 acres held for a second course be cleared for residential development.

“It’s kind of mixed emotions for me,” Just said. “We had always planned to do two courses since we purchased the property, but the market has changed so dramatically over the last ten years, and we’ve had an explosion of courses in Louisville.”

Just noted several courses, many with adjoining communities, such as Meade, the Cardinal Club, Lake Forest and Indian Springs were created about the time Persimmon Ridge opened in 1999.

“We went from being one of very few new courses, along with Valhalla, to being one of ten or more,” she said. “When we first started this, there was a two-year wait list at nearly all the private clubs, but since this explosion there aren’t any wait lists.”

Just said the changes will keep much of the rolling hills and natural beauty of Persimmon Ridge by adding mostly large lots. The request to the commission has 9 acres being changed for standard lots and more than 150 acres for large lots.

“We’re looking at some one- and two-acre lots and up to five acres,” she said. “We can’t just let it sit vacant, so I think this is a good solution. We thought focusing on the championship-quality course we have now would be better.”

Just said she’s disappointed that a second course couldn’t be completed but happy to see planning and developing nearing an end.

“I’ve been working on this project for about thirty years,” she said. “So it’s kind of exciting to see a possible end in sight.”

Also on the agenda, the commission will:

• Hear a request for an amended development plan for R.E.P Rents at 429 Haven Hill Road. The amended plan proposes extending the access drive across the property line for future access to the property on the north side. It also requests amendments to the detention basin design and the entrance location.