Source: The Houston Chronicle
A group that does not want a Clear Lake golf course turned into a residential development will circulate petitions next week in several area neighborhoods.
The Clear Lake City Green Space Preservation Committee, which is part of the Clear Lake City Civic League, will distribute the petitions door-to-door in Camino South, Meadowgreen, Oakbrook and Oakbrook West, said Nina Johnston, a spokeswoman for the group.
The committee, which was formed last month, opposes the development of the 178-acre Clear Lake Golf Club at 1202 Reseda Drive. The club is owned by Renaissance Golf Club LLC.
Renaissance president Mark Voltmann said the golf course has been losing money because it cannot compete with the influx of newer golf courses in the area.
"It would take between $ 4 million and $ 7 million to renovate the 40-year-old course in order to compete with other courses in the area," he said.
Johnston said the committee against housing development was formed after learning that Renaissance approached state Rep. John E. Davis, R-Houston, late last year about turning the golf course into a subdivision.
"We're built out already in this community," said Johnston, who lives across the street from the golf course in the Oakbrook subdivision. "This golf course is the last remaining green space to be developed."
Voltmann said the golf course development still is evolving. Homes will range from single-family houses costing $ 300,000 and up, to patio homes and townhomes ranging from $ 175,000 to $ 200,000, he said.
Once the committee finishes its petition drive, Johnston said, copies will be distributed to local, county and state leaders.
"We will have a compilation of probably thousands of names who are against the development," she said. "For the most part, I think we'll have a huge turnout of people who are going to sign this petition."
Forum held
On Feb. 26, about 200 residents attended a public forum organized by the committee at Clear Lake Recreation Center, 16511 Diana Lane, where Davis discussed the status of the golf course.
Davis said that earlier this year, he and state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, met with Voltmann.
"What they had looked nice, but I told them they needed to communicate with folks in the community and do that," Davis said.
The golf course, which opened in 1963, originally was a private club course, but became a daily-fee course in 1989. Renaissance bought the course in 2001, Johnston said.
Not the first time
Johnston said this is not the first time that Renaissance has considered the idea of developing Clear Lake Golf Club. She said Renaissance approached the Clear Lake City Community Association about it in 2003, but the association opposed such a plan.
Besides Clear Lake Golf Club, Renaissance also owns Quail Valley Country Club in Missouri City.
In 2003, Missouri City's City Council voted unanimously to rezone approximately three acres of the country club to allow 24 patio homes to be built on the golf course.
Johnston said Friendswood Development Co., a subsidiary of Exxon, once owned the Clear Lake property. Exxon holds a deed restriction requiring it to be run as a golf course until 2021.
Meeting wanted
Eventually, Johnston said, the committee hopes to meet with Renaissance, Exxon and Clear Lake-area legislators.
The group also is planning to hold another public forum in April.
"Our group is prepared to go the entire distance on this thing if we have to fight it for years," she said. "I assure you this group is not rolling over."
Davis said he hopes Renaissance will soon reach out to those with interest in the golf course's future.
Voltmann said his firm has visited with local, county, state and federal officials to determine the best course of action for the golf course.
Voltmann said he had met with the steering committee of the Clear Lake City Green Space Preservation Committee last week and plans to meet with others in the community to discuss the planned development.
"The meeting went very well," he said. "I told them if you want to consider other options, I will listen to anything you put forth."
