Stuck in the Rough LLC, which purchased the club in 2012 and closed it with plans to build houses, spread chicken manure over several dying fairways, causing a strong smell that is disturbing neighbors. The owner said the course is being maintained through “an industry-standard landscaping program,” while the inspector said he could think of no reason to put the manure on the course “because the water has been off for about a year.”
The Air Pollution Control District in San Diego said Wednesday it will cite the owner of the now defunct Escondido (Calif.) Country Club for creating a public nuisance by spreading chicken manure over several dying fairways, causing a stench that is disturbing residents, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
The owner, Stuck in the Rough LLC, hasn’t watered the course in months and wants to build houses on the site—a plan that has been stymied by the city in response to neighborhood opposition. Several residents said this week they believe the stinky manure was spread as payback, the Union-Tribune reported.
Stuck in the Rough issued a statement Wednesday saying the course is being maintained through “an industry-standard landscaping program” and that a less-odorous fertilizer will be used in the future, the Union-Tribune reported.
The District received 17 complaints from residents on Tuesday and Wednesday about the smell and Inspector Kent Mesplay went to investigate, the Union-Tribune reported.
“I could smell it yesterday quite strongly by the fence line and then today I was granted access behind a house and had a Level 5 odor coming right off the fairway,” Mesplay said. “Level 5 is bad. Level 5 will just about make you gag.”
Pollution Control District Director Robert Kard said “we will be citing the responsible parties for public nuisance. They may not know that yet, but we will be doing that because it’s clear what has occurred here.”
Kard said he couldn’t say what penalties might be assessed. “It all depends on how long it goes on and the reasoning behind it. We look at a number of factors under state laws when assessing penalties.”
Stuck in the Rough owner Michael Schlesinger declined to comment Wednesday beyond the written statement issued by the company, which noted that it has never been “fined or reprimanded in any way by any authority or city or state department,” the Union-Tribune reported.
The statement went on to say that Stuck in the Rough “continues to maintain the property through an industry-standard landscaping maintenance program. In response to complaints about fertilizer odor, SITR will work with its vendor moving forward, to ensure that a less odorous fertilizer is used on the grounds. We are taking that action immediately, and hope that reduces the odor.”
Schlesinger closed the failing Escondido Country Club and golf course shortly after buying it in late 2012 and announced he planned to build houses there. Residents launched a ballot initiative to have the site declared permanent open space and the city signed the measure into law last year rather than putting it to a public vote, the Union-Tribune reported.
Schlesinger sued the city, claiming the law amounts to an illegal “taking” of his property. That suit is still pending. In addition, Schlesinger recently launched his own ballot initiative that would undo the open-space designation, the Union-Tribune reported.
Area residents said it makes no sense to put chicken manure on the course since it’s clear the developer has no intention of reopening it, the Union-Tribune reported.
“You don’t need fertilizer to grow houses,” said resident Paul DeLaurentis, who said he was at home Friday and watched as a truck spread the manure behind his house which sits near what used to be the 7th green. “It smelled so bad it brought tears to my eyes,” he said.
Mesplay, the air quality inspector, said he could think of no reason to put the manure on the course. “It’s odd because the water has been off for about a year. My take on it is it looks like an intentional nuisance.”
Laura Lee Parker, who lives along the 17th fairway and watched as trucks dumped chunks of manure all over the area Friday, said she thinks the motive is obvious, the Union-Tribune reported.
“It’s just to cause us irritation. Why else?” Parker said. “We know it’s not for fertilizer because you have to water.”
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.