A small land swap may eventually lead to the development of Bismarck's Pebble Creek from a 9-hole golf course to 18.

The Edgewood Development Corp. secured a swap of land with the Bismarck Park District at Thursday's meeting. While the trade was seemingly innocuous, it may lead to a partnership doubling the size of Pebble Creek and creating a brand-new clubhouse to boot.

Philip Gisi, who, along with Dean Throntveit and Dale Klein, owns Edgewood, which originated in Minot, provided a presentation for a major development in northwest Bismarck, encompassing some 455 acres and involving over 1,000 units. The corporation specializes in senior living communities, with 19 developments across five states.

But Gisi said that what Edgewood is planning for Bismarck goes far beyond just senior living. Portions of its development will be open to all ages, incorporating single-family, twin homes, multidwelling condominiums and apartments, retail commercial and recreational developments.

The Edgewood property lies in the Haycreek Greenway and adjacent to Pebble Creek. The first 77-acre project has been platted, and this spring, site development will begin, with homes popping up late in the summer of 2007. The subdivision will be non-age-restricted, with 70 lots available for single-family homes.

The next 77-acre development will be for senior living, available to people age 50 and over. There will be about 120 units, including single-family patio style and twin homes. An association will be created to manage the entire subdivision and provide services such as cable TV, insurance, lawn care and snow removal. There will be an 85-unit condominium with apartments for sale or lease. It will be an assisted-living building with a memory care facility attached, specializing in people with Alzheimer's. There are also plans for a theater, cafe, chapel and other services.

While the park board agreed to the land swap - which involved property of equal value, 1.5 acres of park district land for 1.85 acres of Edgewood property - it's Edgewood's future contribution of land that caught the board's attention. Eventually, Edgewood will contribute 55 acres of land to add nine more holes to Pebblewood. The only stipulation will be to allow storm water storage on the property.

"The development of the land into a golf course or not is up to you," Gisi told the park board. "It would need to accomodate any storm water retention for Edgewood Village."

Gisi said the corporation wants to link its development to the recreation area by providing walking trails, a golf cart path and even a clubhouse, which could either be leased or sold to the park district.

The Edgewood master plan will take place over the course of seven to 10 years, Gisi said, so the park board shouldn't expect everything to happen over night.

Park board member John Sagsveen said he is an advocate of developers providing land to the park district and thought this worked well for everyone concerned.

Board Chairman Mark Zimmerman and member Mike Gilbertson also praised Edgewood's plan.

"I see a lot of issues coming down the road, and I have some concerns," Zimmerman said. "We're not saying we're going to add onto the golf course in 2007 or 2008. But it gives us something to work with."

District director Steve Neu recommended the land swap and called Edgewood's proposal "a great offer, fitting well with the district's planning."

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)