By Cathy Locke -- Bee Staff Writer
A developer has filed an application to rezone the former Sierra Golf Course property for housing, but area residents say they will petition the Placerville City Council to retain the land's open-space designation.
Members of the Save Our Sierra Committee outlined efforts to protect the approximately 17acre site from residential development during an informational meeting attended by about 40 people last week at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.
The group formed last year to give voice to area residents after the golf course closed in late 2003 because of what the owner called management problems and rising costs.
The course, developed in 1963, spawned the surrounding County Club Estates neighborhood.
"Our objective is to obtain long-term protection of the land," said Save Our Sierra Committee member Rick Chapman.
Wayne Craig, president of Lodi-based Sandhill Development Co., at the committee's invitation, also discussed his proposal to build 40 houses on the site.
Committee members say open space is essential to preserving Placerville's "old town" atmosphere, arguing that it provides a buffer and relief from urban growth.
Residential development of the site, they say, would threaten the privacy and property values of Country Club Estates residents, who bought their homes believing the adjoining land would remain a golf course.
The course also borders the Placerville Airport, and several pilots said they feared a residential subdivision would lead to complaints about airplane noise, jeopardizing the airport's operations.
"The airport contributes over $10 million annually to the Placerville area," said committee member and pilot Steve Colwell.
The committee continues to explore means to purchase the land for a city park and reported receiving a grant application from California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer's office. Members noted, however, that the city, rather than the committee, would have to initiate the grant process.
Members said they are amenable to other uses allowed in open-space zones, including cemeteries, playgrounds and agricultural operations. Before the property was developed as a golf course, they said, it was a black walnut orchard.
At the same time, "we don't have our heads stuck in the sand," Chapman said, adding that the committee is open to other options.
The group recruited the services of Navid Mostatabi, a senior at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, majoring in landscape architecture. As a student project, Mostatabi examined options, including a redesigned golf course, a city park and a compromise proposal that would allow some housing while maintaining much of the acreage as open space.
The existing course layout features "linear, boring topography," Mostatabi said. He came up with a design that would create uphill and downhill shots and reduce turf by 40 percent, lowering irrigation and maintenance costs.
But, Mostatabi said, golf course designers told him the operation would require a $25 green fee, which is above average for a nine-hole course.
As an alternative, he proposed developing 21 residential units in clusters, with three attached units per structure. This would leave a 120-foot buffer between existing homes and the new dwellings, "so it wouldn't feel like the new homes are encroaching," Mostatabi said.
He also suggested including a clubhouse that could serve as a gathering place for the community.
Sandhill Development proposes 30 houses on lots of a half-acre or more, and 10 on minimum quarter-acre lots.
Developer Craig said the smaller lots would border the airport hangars, while the larger ones would be next to the existing homes.
"We're trying to create as much distance as possible," Craig said, adding that the design calls for wide side yards. Houses also would be offset to avoid rows of dwellings, he said.
If area residents like the cluster concept, Craig said he would consider modifying the plan, keeping the same number of houses but arranging them in clusters to preserve more open space.
He rejected the idea of attached dwellings, saying there is no market for triplexes, and developers can't afford the construction insurance for such projects.
"We need the housing unit count at 40 to make the economics work," Craig said.
The concept for the development has evolved over time, Craig said, and he thanked residents for their input.
Craig said he didn't want to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars just to have the same issues raised at a public hearing. "I'm prepared to take some more time to get it right," he said.
Steve Calfee, city community development director, said in an interview that he was awaiting word from Craig to retain a consultant to prepare the environmental study for the project.
Once that occurs, he said, it would be 75 to 90 days before a public hearing is scheduled on the rezoning request.
