Cedar Hills votes to keep its golf course

CEDAR HILLS — After three years of discussion, City Council members in Cedar Hills decided Tuesday night to try to keep the city's golf course and pay off its $6 million debt.

They voted unanimously to do that by developing 11 lots in an area known as "the Junipers" and 22 lots around the 15th hole. The city would then create a new hole in the Junipers and keep the 18-hole course.

There is a caveat, though, and what happens now depends on The Cedars' homeowners association.

The Cedars neighborhood borders the golf course and, although the land in question is city property, part of it falls within The Cedars' legal jurisdiction through an agreement accepted by the city.

In order for the city to develop land that falls within the neighborhood's legal boundary, a majority of homeowners must approve an amendment to their developmental code.

If the development does not approve the city-proposed plan by April 1, City Council members voted to "declare that it is the intent of the city that if we don't get the vote...it is our intent to turn all of this wonderful open space that our city has been blessed with into the best use that it can," Councilman Joel Wright said.

Selling the lower nine holes of the golf course and turning the rest of the course into open space and parks was discussed as an alternative option if the homeowners association does not approve developing the Junipers.

Councilman Eric Richardson said if the city's attorney decides the homeowners should have more time, the council will reconsider extending the April 1 deadline.

"There's to me the psychological divide between 'us vs. them' and it's not 'us vs. them,"' Richardson said. "They're part of us and we're part of them."

The council agreed to send a special mailer, in addition to the city newsletter, to every Cedar Hills resident with information as to how the course would be reconfigured.

Councilman Gary Maxwell, who met with the homeowners association informally for two Saturdays in the two weeks since the council's last meeting to generate support for the plan, said he feels confident the neighborhood will approve the amendment.

"I would be willing myself to personally go and get ballots signed so we can get that 173 votes that we need," Maxwell said. "Overall ... the great majority, I believe, at both of those Saturday morning meetings were very favorable, and I think we could get the money we need."

According to Maxwell, the city should get $2.2 million from developing the Junipers and $4.4 million from developing the area near the 15th hole. Subtracting the cost of developing a new hole, about $200,000, Maxwell said he believes the amount would be enough to pay off the city's debt.

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