Simi Golf Course Appears Unlikely
Facility called too costly for city
By Teresa Rochester, trochester@VenturaCountyStar.com
June 20, 2005
Golfing in Runkle Canyon seemed like a good idea several years ago, but tonight the Simi Valley City Council will be asked to decline
the chance to build a championship course as part of the proposed housing development.
Giving the city the opportunity to build the course by dedicating 27 acres to it was part of an agreement between the city and
developer GreenPark Runkle Canyon.
But the chances of that happening aren't as realistic as they once appeared.
"It was one of the things that was contemplated," said Dulce Conde-Sierra, the city's deputy director of environmental services.
"Several years ago it looked like a good idea."
In 2003, a committee made up of a pair of council members and two members of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District
found the development of an 18-hole golf course was not needed.
The cost to develop the course and related amenities was too high and there were "soft market conditions," according to a report
by city staff.
Conde-Sierra said conditions had not changed enough to warrant a shift in plans.
If the council does decline GreenPark's offer to dedicate the land, it will be used for drainage and flood control for the project that
includes 298 single-family homes, 25 estates and 138 senior condominiums.
"It will remain green space," said GreenPark President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Kiesecker. "It's a beautiful little canyon. It's
a gorgeous piece of property."
Even if the council doesn't accept the dedication of the 27-acre parcel for the golf course, it will still have to figure out what to do
with 190 acres that comprise two additional parcels the developer is dedicating to the city.
That acreage will also remain open space, but the council will have to decide what uses will be appropriate for the land in the future.
Kiesecker said his company was still searching for a builder to design the project and build it.
Once the design is completed it will need to wend its way through the city's approval process.
Any groundbreaking will likely take place in 2006.
Facility called too costly for city
By Teresa Rochester, trochester@VenturaCountyStar.com
June 20, 2005
Golfing in Runkle Canyon seemed like a good idea several years ago, but tonight the Simi Valley City Council will be asked to decline
the chance to build a championship course as part of the proposed housing development.
Giving the city the opportunity to build the course by dedicating 27 acres to it was part of an agreement between the city and
developer GreenPark Runkle Canyon.
But the chances of that happening aren't as realistic as they once appeared.
"It was one of the things that was contemplated," said Dulce Conde-Sierra, the city's deputy director of environmental services.
"Several years ago it looked like a good idea."
In 2003, a committee made up of a pair of council members and two members of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District
found the development of an 18-hole golf course was not needed.
The cost to develop the course and related amenities was too high and there were "soft market conditions," according to a report
by city staff.
Conde-Sierra said conditions had not changed enough to warrant a shift in plans.
If the council does decline GreenPark's offer to dedicate the land, it will be used for drainage and flood control for the project that
includes 298 single-family homes, 25 estates and 138 senior condominiums.
"It will remain green space," said GreenPark President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Kiesecker. "It's a beautiful little canyon. It's
a gorgeous piece of property."
Even if the council doesn't accept the dedication of the 27-acre parcel for the golf course, it will still have to figure out what to do
with 190 acres that comprise two additional parcels the developer is dedicating to the city.
That acreage will also remain open space, but the council will have to decide what uses will be appropriate for the land in the future.
Kiesecker said his company was still searching for a builder to design the project and build it.
Once the design is completed it will need to wend its way through the city's approval process.
Any groundbreaking will likely take place in 2006.
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