The proposed golf course in Port Orford, Ore., took another step toward development when Curry County commissioners tentatively approved a clubhouse design. Pending final approval, a wetlands study, and final routing for the course, preliminary work on the project could begin next summer.
The proposed Pacific Gales golf course in Port Orford, Ore., again has gained approval by Curry County after commissioners tentatively approved a clubhouse design after the issue had been returned to Coos County by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) earlier this year, the Coos Bay, Ore.-based World reported.
The Oregon Coast Alliance (ORCA) had appealed the county’s approval of a conditional use permit for the golf course, claiming the county erred in its interpretation of land use laws in several different areas. LUBA agreed with ORCA only on the matter of design capacity, remanding the decision to the county for that issue, the World reported.
Because the golf course on a portion of Knapp Ranch would be built within three miles of the Port Orford Urban Growth Boundary, the structures on the course must not have a combined design capacity greater than 100. The developers of the project had not given specifics on the clubhouse in their initial application, the World reported.
In their documents to the county for the remand hearing, including a preliminary clubhouse design, they said the clubhouse and three other structures—a maintenance building, concession building and reception building for incoming golfers, would not have a design capacity greater than 100, the World reported.
The county placed three conditions on the approval this week. First, the golf course owners will not allow more than 100 people in the clubhouse at any one time. Second, the outside patios that are part of the clubhouse will not be enclosed. Third, any tents used as part of golf tournaments or other functions the course hosts won’t be enclosed, the World reported.
The decision does not become final until the commissioners sign the final order in a meeting on October 7. When that happens, there will be a 15-day appeal period. At that point, ORCA will have the option of again appealing the decision to LUBA, though the developers don’t believe ORCA has a case and said the arguments they submitted to the commissioners for the remand hearing fell outside of the scope allowed by LUBA, the World reported.
“LUBA was very specific in the language they used in the remand,” said Jim Haley, one of the partners in Elk River Property Development, LLC. “We’re going to win this time. I think we’re going to be building next year.”
Developers are making progress on other steps before construction can start. Haley said a required archaeological study of the site has been completed by Southern Oregon University (SOU). But a required wetlands survey of the property still hasn’t been completed because there wasn’t enough rain the past winter to show what parts of the site actually are wetlands, the World reported.
The SOU study didn’t turn up any historical artifacts on the site, which was used in the past by local tribes. “They basically said there’s nothing there,” Haley said. “That’s great news.”
When the wetlands study is finished, the architect, Dave Esler, can complete a final routing for the course. Haley hopes that work can all be done in time for preliminary work to start next summer and planting to begin next fall, the best time of year for seeding the golf course since the winds are not as high as in the summer, the World reported.
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