WGP-Vellano LLC purchased the property that includes a Greg Norman-designed golf course in the Chino Hills, Calif. community and has met with resistance over its development plan from a “Victory for Vellano” homeowners’ group. The owners have also been issued violation notices for erecting a chain-link fence without permits and allowing landscaping and trees to decline, and the pool has been inspected over potential algae and mosquito-breeding concerns.

Owners of the now-closed golf course at Vellano Country Club in Chino Hills, Calif. have refused to remove the chain-link fence that was installed without permits and are appealing the City of Chino Hills’ denial of a request to retain the fence, the Chino Champion reported.

The appeal hearing will take place on the evening of November 20th at the Chino Hills Planning Commission meeting, the Champion reported.

WGP-Vellano LLC, a unit of Western Golf Properties (WGP), purchased the property and its 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed golf course in 2017, shut the course down in May 2018, and installed a chain-link fence without notifying the city, the Champion reported. Chain-link is permitted for temporary construction fencing only, according to city code.

The city has issued at least two violation notices to WGP for installing the fence and allowing the landscape and trees to decline, and a code enforcement case is underway, the Champion reported.

The golf course was once the centerpiece of the exclusive Vellano Country Club development consisting of 205 custom and semi-custom homes, the Champion reported.

WGP proposed building houses on a portion of the golf course, but the Vellano Homeowners’ Association adamantly opposed the effort and formed a group called “Victory for Vellano.”

Bobby Heath, Chief Executive Officer of WGP, said he would not comment for the story, the Champion reported.

WGP paid a flat fee of $3,200 for the appeal of the fence-violation notice, the Champion reported, but the costs involved in holding a hearing and making a decision could exceed the fee, based on the amount of time needed by city staff to process the appeal, according to Community Development Director Joann Lombardo.

The new owners also wanted to remove the club’s pool and applied for a demolition permit in October 2018, Lombardo told the Champion. The city denied the permit because removing the pool would have conflicted with requirements contained in the conditional-use permit for the golf course and clubhouse amenities, she said.

The Vellano CC clubhouse has remained open after the golf course closing and is used for events, through the management of Wedgewood Weddings.

Mike Konrad, President of the Vellano Homeowners Association, said WGP stopped maintaining the pool and it now contains algae, the Champion reported.

The City of Chino Hills contacted the West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control on October 16th with concerns about the pool, the Champion reported. According to District Manager Michelle Brown, a technician visited the Vellano property the following day and observed the green pool, but found no mosquito breeding. The technician did find, however, that the pool pumps were not working.

The matter was discussed with the property’s grounds maintenance department and the agency has since visited the site twice to track the progress of remediation steps, Dr. Brown said.

Konrad told the Champion that he will attend the appeal hearing on the fence issue with many other Vellano homeowners, and will address the planning commission directly.