Source: Sacramento Bee
A panel created by the Placerville City Council will explore ways to raise money for possible purchase of land that was home to the now-closed Sierra Golf Course.
Neighborhood concerns about the future of the 18-acre site prompted creation of the Save Our Sierra ad hoc committee. It includes Public Services Director Ron Mueller, Bob Conrad, Fred Winn and Don Vanderkar. Councilman Mark Acuna was appointed as the council's liaison.
Management problems and rising costs caused closure of the course between Country Club Drive and Placerville Airport in late 2003, owner Leon Chabre said. In a December interview, Chabre said a prospective buyer was considering the site for residential development.
Residents of the Country Club Drive area, many of whom live along the golf course, oppose developing the property, which is zoned for open space. About 75 people attended a city-sponsored meeting in December to discuss the property's future.
"Our main priority is to keep it open space," Conrad said. "This is the last really viable place (in the city) to put a golf course or a park."
The council agreed during its Jan. 25 meeting to assist the committee by allowing it to use city letterhead in communication and fund solicitation.
City Manager John Driscoll said no information will be sent out by the group without the city's approval.
The Sierra Golf Course operated for 44 years, and many of the residents at the December meeting said they want golfing to resume there.
Placerville officials have said the city does not have money to buy the property as a golf course or parkland. But Acuna, in offering to serve as the council's liaison, said, "We owe it to spend some time and explore options."
Councilman Pierre Rivas agreed but said, "One concern is that we're headed down a path where the city becomes obligated to run a golf course. A lot of small golf courses are not doing very well financially."
Driscoll said that though maintaining the property as a golf course might not be feasible, the site has potential as parkland.
Rivas supported exploring funding and use possibilities for the property, but he said the council should avoid being an advocate. Council members, he argued, should maintain an "arm's length" relationship with the ad hoc committee.
Councilwoman Marian Washburn stressed that the city does not own the property.
"It belongs to someone else," she said. "We can't tell people what to do with it."
Conrad said he would contact the individual who has expressed interest in the site and apprise him of the committee's activities.
Driscoll said purchase of the land probably would hinge on a zoning change.
If the city received a request for rezoning before the committee completed its study, he said, "we would have to address it on its merits."
