CAPE CORAL, Fla. A controversial plan to turn a former golf course into hundreds of homes was dealt two critical blows Monday. City Council voted against recommending a change in land use for the Palm Tree Boulevard site that was once The Golf Club. That came hours after developer D.R. Horton abandoned its proposal to build hundreds of homes on the property. Even after the withdrawal of D.R. Horton, Florida Gulf Ventures LLC, which owns the site, remained in favor of a land use change from parks and recreation to residential. Many residents opposed the idea of turning the site into a neighborhood and spoke out in favor of making a park out of it instead. Overflow seating was necessary outside council chambers Monday as residents gathered for a chance to express their thoughts. “We’ve had hundreds of people show up at rallies and fundraisers,” said Barth Wolf, the leader of a group called Save Our Recreation. “We have over 10,500 signatures of people who say they want this land preserved. They don’t want 500-700 homes built here.” D.R. Horton released a statement: “D.R. Horton would like to thank those who supported The Palms of Cape Coral single family home development on the former golf club property. After careful consideration, we regret to announce that we are pulling out of the project and removing all offers from consideration. Over these last years, we have made substantial compromises and concessions to satisfy those most concerned. Single family housing is clearly the correct and proper use for the property, but we do not feel that it is in Horton’s best interest investing further time and resources pursuing a project that is not embraced as we had hoped. Representatives from Ryan Companies Florida Gulf Venture, the current owner of the property, will be at tonight’s council meeting rather than D.R.Horton. A ‘Yes’ vote by the council will move the project, and this area of Cape Coral, one step forward to improving property values and increasing the tax base for the city.”