Staff writer
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| JEROME A. POLLOS/Press Paul Wenig spots his tee shot from the first tee last fall behind the clubhouse at Prairie Falls Golf Course in Post Falls. |
City, homeowners group pass on option to buy Prairie Falls golf course
POST FALLS -- Prairie Falls Golf Club is for sale for $6 million, leaving 242 property owners in limbo wondering whether they'll be viewing greens or more homes in the future and whether North Idaho will lose an option for affordable golf.
Owners of the 18-hole privately owned public course have said they are left with few choices after losing about $250,000 per year in recent years and facing a debt in "seven figures."
Both the city and the Prairie Falls Homeowners Association were recently approached to see if they were interested in acquiring the 120 acres in the north-central part of the city, but there were no takers.
"While the city sympathizes with the current plight of the Prairie Falls Golf Club, we are not in a position to acquire the course nor would it be a prudent use of taxpayer or impact fee dollars at this juncture," city administrator Eric Keck said. "We have a master plan for parks and recreation facilities that did not contemplate the city owning a golf course.
"This is an unfortunate matter that the residents find themselves faced with. The city just cannot do anything to financially bail the course owners out."
Keith Coultrap, one of the course's owners and spokesman of the group, could not be reached Friday for comment. He earlier said the course's five partners have no obligation to keep the property as a course.
A worker at the course said on Friday that golf play will continue for the rest of the year, regardless of whether it sells.
But, beyond that, it's unclear whether the property or a portion of it will remain a course or be homes in the future.
The site is zoned residential and is in city limits, but it is in a planned unit development and the course has operated under a special-use permit.
"We're pursuing all avenues right now to get the property sold, but it's preliminary to say which direction it's going to go," said real estate agent Rob Reagan. "It depends on the buyer and what their thinking is."
The course has been listed about a week, Reagan said.
"We're just starting to market it and we don't even have all the information yet," he said.
If the new owner wanted to construct homes on the site, they would be required to go through a development process that would include public hearings before both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.
And, if history is any indication, development is not a slam dunk in that area.
The City Council last year unanimously denied Quest Development's plan to build 10 three-unit condo buildings on the course's fifth hole on 3.2 acres at the northwest corner of Idaho and Poleline. The Planning Commission had recommended approval.
Additionally, if the developers were to close nine holes and propose additional housing units above the originally approved density, it would open up the PUD agreement, which would also require public hearings before the Planning Commission and the City Council.
"Either way, it would not be a simplistic process," Keck said.
All sides see the issue as litigation that's waiting to happen in regard to whether anyone will be able to develop on the property.
"This is a civil matter between the homeowners association and the owners," Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin said. "I have explained that the city will not put on the black and white shirt and referee the issue.
"We will be happy to furnish copies of existing public documents as this moves ahead."
Larkin said the city cannot ask taxpayers to subsidize the project and bear the burden of a failing golf course. The city was also asked several years ago to buy the course when only the front nine were done.
"Certain business decisions were made a long time ago regarding more than 250 lifetime memberships that transfer with the title to land; those folks don't pay to play," Larkin said. "There are no plans for subsidy today or in the future. Case closed."
Keck said that while deeded golf memberships are a great benefit for the homeowners, they are a liability for the course or their successor since no new revenue can be generated from the individuals to help offset the costs of maintenance or capital improvements.
"For the city to entertain assuming this liability seems quite foolish," Keck said.
Furthermore, Keck said the city already has agreements through the original annexation to utilize the property for land application of treated wastewater and as such does not need to own the land for such purpose.
Kevin McCrink, president of the homeowners association, said homeowners can't pay $15,000 each to buy the course. He said not only the homeowners in the subdivision stand to lose with the possibility of lowering home values and greenspace if the course is developed, but it would be a blow to the entire community.
"One of the huge attractions to this area is affordable golf," McCrink said. "There's also high school and amateur tournaments held there. All those would go away.
"Clearly this isn't just an issue for our neighbors. I view (the course) as an asset to the entire city."
McCrink said some Prairie Falls residents have joined others in the Northridge community north of Prairie Falls to look at options to save the course, but no definite plan has arisen.
Another Prairie Falls resident, who did not want to be identified, said he believes there are enough hurdles that the course owners would have to go through to get the land developed that he believes the residents are safe. In addition, the $6 million price tag is outlandish, he said.
"The property does not lend itself well to development," he said. "But I don't envy the City Council's position no matter what it does (if the land is sold and a request is presented). It's a very contentious situation."
The Highlands in Post Falls is also facing financial woes and considering developing some lots to help the course survive. Owner Kirk Hill was proposing to allow 10 more single-family lots in five different locations, but the request was pulled from this month's Planning Commission agenda because the subdivision's covenants need to be changed before the request can be presented to the city.
The application will likely come back this spring or summer, said Brad Marshall of JUB Engineers, which represents Hill.
Carl Spackler wrote on May 17, 2008 7:05 AM: