MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Eagan’s only 18-hole golf course will remain open for now. The city’s Advisory Planning Commission denied the request to turn Parkview Golf Club into a housing community with a 5-1 vote Tuesday night.

The vote came after hearing concerns from neighbors and golfers who are against the project.

Eden Prairie-based developer Hunter Emerson purchased the 43-year-old course and is looking to build more than 170 single-family homes on the 80-acre site.

Golfers may be excited for the time being, but co-owner of the course, Robert Zackheim, says the course continues to lose money.

“As much as we would like to make it work, continuing to run our golf course operation long term is simply not viable,” Zackeim said.

Zackheim says Parkview has been impacted by the over building of golf courses throughout the years, also the economy and the rising cost of maintenance.

He says even with a $1 million investment, the revenue they need to stay open is not coming in.

The owner told the commission at its peak, more than 50,000 rounds were played on the course. In 2011, that dropped to 37,000, a 25 percent decrease.

Emerson is not calling it quits, the Eagan Patch reports the developer plans to change the lay out to include senior housing.

The city council is expected to the review the request on June 19.