After two years and two passes at finding a developer for the Countryside golf course, Roanoke officials rolled out a proposed development plan for the site Tuesday evening that includes about 300 homes, retail and restaurants, large-scale commercial development, office buildings and a nine-hole golf course.

But the preservation of a sizable chunk of the golf course did nothing to budge neighborhood activists from their position that the golf course should be left alone as the only significant recreational space in the northwest part of the city.

"We pretty much reject any plan other than enhancing the golf course," tennis and swimming facilities already there, said Valerie Garner, chairwoman of the Countryside Neighborhood Alliance, before a public comment session at which the development plan was unveiled. About 50 area residents attended.

The city bought the land in 2005 for $4.1 million after the owner at the time, Florida-based Meadowbrook Golf, was told that its lease on airport-owned land on which several holes are located would not be renewed. The idea from the beginning has been to create a mixed-use development on the 140-acre, rare open expanse in the city.

The first developer to submit a proposal withdrew it. The city issued a new request for proposals and received a response from a group that includes Triangle Development of Richmond, the Victor Foti Co. and Allegheny Construction of the Roanoke Valley, and Mike Morgan Engineering of Midlothian.

The group's plan involves about 100 single-family homes from 1,300 square feet to 3,300 square feet to be built on cul-de-sac roads along what are now the 10th and 12th fairways of the course. About 120 2,200-square-foot town homes would go on the end of the course closest to William Fleming High School.

Some 75 condominiums would be built at the opposite end of the course, near the Miller Court neighborhood.

The plan also calls for extending Ferncliff Road, which runs from Hershberger Road past Fleming, through the golf course to connect to Lewiston Street. The new portion of the road would feature small shops and restaurants.

The plan also calls for some tennis courts near Fleming, and a 4-acre park near Cove Road.

All this would surround a redesigned "executive" nine-hole golf course.

Brian Townsend, acting assistant city manager for community development, told the crowd he knows there is opposition to the project, but he urged people to be specific in their questions and concerns.

Some viewed that as a sign that the plan is a done deal, while others continued to press the city to maintain Countryside as a municipal golf course.

"You have a golden opportunity right here, and you're missing it," said one man, who, like most speakers, did not identify himself.

"Everybody wants to keep this as a golf course," another man said. "Nobody is entertaining that notion, and it's a sound one."

Garner pointed out that the lease of the land from the airport where the new course is located will expire in 2008. Will the airport reverse its position and renew the lease for the new course, Garner asked.

Townsend said that's up to the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission.

Other residents called the loss of the golf course a blow to already limited recreational sites in Northwest.

"We don't have a bike trail, walking trail, swimming pool," one woman said. "Are you planning to give us anything?"

Other critics seized on the creation of a thoroughfare through the neighborhood and the presence of retail in the middle of a residential development.

The retail area would be a village with small-scale shops primarily for nearby residents and with on-street parking.

"The developer knows they will have to spend special attention to this road to make sure it's not a speedway," Townsend said.

"The traffic through there already is outrageous," said a woman who lives on Lewiston Street. "Our kids as of now can't walk, and you can't jog."

Ed Blevins lives on Countryside Drive near the proposed retail area.

"Are we going to be looking at the back of businesses, is that all we're going to see?" he asked.

"Right now, at the conceptual level, we don't have answers to all the questions," Townsend said at the outset of the meeting. Input gathered Tuesday night will be shared with the developers, the city manager and the city council.

Then comes more refinement of the plan, negotiation of terms for the sale of the land, phasing of the development, a city council vote to approve the plan and then rezoning.

"There's as much time ahead of as there has been behind us," Townsend said.