Report No. 2 -- NEW GOLF COURSE (No.8) IN HEART OF FOREST AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY

This proposed new golf course is the largest development project among the ten major projects proposed in Del Monte Forest. This will be the 8th golf course in the Forest. It will be located between the Spyglass Hill course and Peter Hay course. And it is very close to the Cypress Point course. All existing golf courses, except for the Poppy Hills course, are in prime coastal locations.

This new golf course will have a major adverse impact on the environment with loss of thousands of trees, native plants, and wildlife. The impact of interfering with wetlands has not been properly considered. How will golfers be kept out of the many seasonal wetlands and freshwater marshes on the proposed golf course?

All proposed developments in the Forest makes no attempt to satisfy the California Coastal Act's requirement for lower cost visitor and recreational facilities, (Section 30213). This proposed golf course, in fact, destroys Collins Field, the only open space recreational facility in the Forest. Public access to the proposed golf course is not "lower cost recreation" but very expensive recreation available to just a few wealthy golfers. The planned golf cart paths will not be available to visitors. Existing hiking trails in the vicinity of the shore line will be destroyed by the proposed golf course. The planned new hotel rooms (golf cottages and added rooms at The Lodge and Inn at Spanish Bay) will be at the extreme upper end of the cost scale.

It is proposed that reclaimed water would be used for irrigating turf at the new golf course and potable water for the clubhouse and restrooms. The County's Sept. 2004 Partial Revision of the Draft EIR includes the following Mitigation Measure PSU-D 1: "The applicant shall fund or arrange to fund the Reclaimed Water Project Phase II Improvements. Potable water and recycled water shall not be used to serve any Proposed Project development until the Phase II improvements are operational. If this project is approved, this condition must be fully met prior to beginning any construction.

The residential quality of life in the Forest will be impacted with increased traffic, added noise and commercial operations in a large section of existing homes.

The PB Co. project Application calls for the following:

1. Construction of an 18-hole golf course including underground maintenance facility, new clubhouse along Forest Lake Rd. and two on-course restrooms.

The daily number of tee times at the golf course will vary according to the seasonal hours of daylight, and will have the potential to accommodate 55,000 golfers annually. The Clubhouse restaurant will have an estimated capacity to serve between 150 to 175 persons. The golf course, driving range and clubhouse will be open for business from dawn to dusk.

2. Construction of 24 commercial visitor serving guest suites, (golf cottages), in 11 new buildings along the ocean side of Stevenson Dr.

Guests will check-in at the cottages anytime after 4:00 pm; check-out is anytime before 12:00 noon; room service is available 24 hours/day. Parking areas will be available 24 hours/day.

3. Demolition of the historic equestrian center including barns, dorms, one single family dwelling and two cottages.

(See Report No. 1 for details of the proposed New Equestrian Center in the Sawmill Gulch Borrow area of the Forest along S.F.B Morse Dr.)

4. Expansion of the existing driving range and construction of a golf equipment room, restroom and parking area.

5. Removal of approximately 9,000 tress, primarily Monterey pines and some oak and cypress trees.

6. Minor lot line adjustment of an approximately 240 acre area to merge all but two of the existing legal lots of record and adjust the two remaining parcels to 213.95 acres and 23.63 acres in size.

7. Construction of road, water, sewer and storm drain improvements.

8. Grading with 318,000 cu. yd. cut and 377,000 cu. yd. fill.

Major Road Changes in the Heart of the Forest

• The proposed golf course will be located:
  • Southwest of Forests Lake Rd., Northwest of Ondulado Rd., East of Alvia Ln.,
  • Northwest of part of Portola Rd (see Road Abandonment below),
  • Northeast of Sombria Ln., Southwest of Stevenson Dr. and Spyglass Hill Rd.
    
• Road abandonment and changes:
  • The new golf course will required abandonment of part of Portola Rd. (from Alva Ln. to Forest Lake Rd.), Drake Rd. (from Sombria Ln. to Stevenson Dr.), and part of Stevenson Dr. (from Bristol Curve to Forest Lake Rd. at Ondulado Rd.)
  • Bristol Curve will be completely abandoned and Stevenson Dr. will be realigned south of Bristol Curve easterly to connect with Forest Lake Rd.

  These road changes will require many residents to make changes in the route they take to and from the Post Office, Banks, etc. It will also require drivers of emergency vehicles to make changes in locating and reaching homes southwest of the new golf course.

An offsite new golf course is a feasible alternative. This has not been addressed in the County's Environmental Impact Report.