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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/25/1994 City Council00524 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON July 25, 1994 The Work Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:10 p.m. on the 25th day of July, 1994 at City Hall with the following Council roll call: William Manning, Mayor Present Mike Lynch, Mayor Pro-Tem Absent Toby Pollard, Councilman Present Kay Hardin, Councilman Present Rob Burchard, Councilman Present John Dillard, Councilman Present Lynda Tate, Councilman Present and with six present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: l. REVIEW PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON WYNNEWOOD PENINSULA AS PRESENTED BY MATTHEWS SOUTHWEST CORPORATION Tim House and Rob Farrell representing Matthews Southwest were present. Mr. House addressed the Council: This is the largest single Matthews Southwest residential project in this area. When all the land has been purchased (in 3 - 4 years) it will encompass approximately 1200 acres. Matthews Southwest has a vested interest in seeing the golf course developed and have interviewed several golf developers in that regard. Matthews Southwest wants a quality course to be built and Champions Golf from Oklahoma City has been chosen as the company with which they will work. Terry Wilkerson with Champions Golf said they feel an 18 hole course would be obsolete by the time it opened. He said they have used conservative projections and feel that at least 36 holes would be needed. Mr. Wilkerson said Champions has 200 years combined experience in golf design and construction. He said some of the funding will be private. Mr. Tripp Davis with Charles Howard Design Company displayed a map of the area to be developed and said it lends itself to a Scottish or British type course because of the open space on the peninsula. He noted there are 9 "view spots" identified which will make the course beautiful and unique. Mr. Davis said there is plenty of room for 36 holes and possibly another 36 holes in the future. He stated the company will work with the Corps of Engineers to comply with their flood level requirements, noting some of the greens will be raised above that level. Mr. Davis said they work with the Corps almost every day and there should not be a problem getting the course designed to their satisfaction. Tim House interjected that 9 holes will be routed through the residential project. Mr. Wilkerson said the fees will be affordable, not $40 - $50 a round, although the course will have country club quality and services it will be reasonable, probably starting 2 around $14.00 per round. Rusty Nichols said the Corps will want some say in the amount of the green fees to ensure they compare to area courses. Mr. Tripp said there will be two different courses designed to appeal to two different types of golfer, noting both will be high quality courses. Mr. Wilkerson said they want to work with the schools in the area to set up classes, summer camps, etc. Mr. House said they have been working with Rauscher Pierce regarding the proposed Public Improvement District (PID). This is a creative mechanism and asked Mr. Boyd London to address this issue. Mr. London, with First Southwest, the city's financial advisor and bond counsel, said the bonds are sold by the city, however there is no obligation on the part of the city to repay the bonds. He said this is a new approach in the State of Texas, but noted it has been used in California extensively and that the PID is a viable solution to financing. Mr. London said there needs to be a meeting of the City staff, City bond counsel, Rauscher Pierce representatives, Matthews Southwest and Champions Golf to work out all the details, which can then be relayed to the Council. Mr. London said the bonds would be special revenue bonds which could only be re-paid by the golf course revenues. Lengthy discussion followed regarding this financing method. Mr. House said Matthews Southwest needs to know if the council agrees with the concept of financing before they expend any more funds to carry out their plans. He said there is a lot more work to be done but would like to know that the city plans to continue to work with them. Mr. Nichols agreed, stating this group needs to know the city will work with them before they expend major funds. Mr. House asked if the letter of commitment from the City could be extended an additional 60 days and Councilman Pollard suggested placing an item on the next agenda to formally grant that extension. Councilman Dillard said the Corps of Engineers wants something done at the park and the City wants a golf course, we just need to be sure the Corps is happy with the plan. Mr. London said the financial details could probably be complete in about 2 weeks. Councilman Tare stated she is concerned that the golf course not only be top notch quality when it opens but that it remains something we can all be proud of. Mr. House said they all agree and went on to say Matthews Southwest wants this to be the nicest neighborhood in The Colony. A meeting will be set up next week with City staff, Boyd London, Matthews Southwest, Champions Golf and Rauscher Pierce. 8:10 p.m. Recess 8:40 p.m. Reconvene 3 00524a 2. REVIEW PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A PAR 3 GOLF COURSE ON ._.. STEWART CREEK PENINSULA AS PRESENTED BY PENINSULA GOLF ASSOCIATION Mr. Rusty Nichols, Stewart Peninsula Development, presented a proposal to the Council to place a par 3 golf course on an undeveloped portion of Stewart Creek Park. This area is adjacent to proposed residential development and a passive use of this area is desired. He said his group has discussed jogging trails, biking trails, etc. in this area and feel the terrain is excellent for a par 3 course, with proposed access through the road into Stewart Creek park. Mr. Nichols said the cost would be approximately $1,000,000 total and asked for a similar 60 day time period from the city to work out the details. Mayor Manning said the area is now used for primitive camping and asked why that would not be appropriate. Mr. Nichols stated that Perry Homes is interested in building there but if camp fires are allowed, he will not build there. Mr. Nichols said in fact every builder he has approached regarding this development has expressed concerns over the close proximity of camp fires to expensive homes. Councilman Pollard asked if golf would be located in the strip leading from the road to the main part of the course. Mr. Nichols said if there is it would be minimal. He noted the strip is wooded, has an artesian spring and an old unused road there now. Mr. Nichols said they propose to clear the underbrush, improve the road slightly and do some work around the spring to protect it. Councilman Dillard said it is important to the developer that the residential area be protected, and the city needs to decide how that area will be used. Councilman Pollard agreed stating the developer is concerned about protecting the residences and suggested the Parks & Recreation Board be asked to look at this area and come up with alternative uses. Mr. Nichols said that would be great. Truman Edminster, Carter and Burgess, said they want not only to protect the development but to do what's good for the community as a whole and noted there are many uses that would be compatible. Mr. Nichols said the golf course would enhance the Johnson tract, which his company is trying to purchase. Councilman Dillard suggested that if the Johnson tract is purchased, then access to the actual golf course could be in another location instead of through Stewart Creek Park. Mr. Nichols said that is a possibility. Councilman Burchard said the council has already approved and committed to a residential development in the area and we need to be careful how that strip leading to the golf course is used. Councilman Dillard said the golf course is a good idea, but agreed the use of the strip needs to be considered carefully and said the Parks & Recreation Board should be asked to brainstorm this. Mayor Manning agreed. Johnny Smith said the park is heavily used and there is already a need for more parking. He said since Mr. Nichols had indicated there may be a need to increase parking to accommodate the golf course, that perhaps we need to take this time to look at the park as a whole. Mr. Smith suggested that the strip could be used as a nature trail. All council agreed the idea of the golf course is acceptable, however the use of the strip from the park to the course needs to be considered carefully. Mr. Nichols and his group will meet with the Parks & Recreation Board to come up with alternative ideas for use of this strip. Mr. Nichols said he does not feel any formal "---' 4 action is needed at the next council meeting. He said their statements have indicated enough support for him to proceed with planning for the golf course. Mr. Edminster said Carter and Burgess had done some preliminary work at Stewart Creek Park and that he would make those plans available. With no further business to address, Mayor Manning adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: Patti A. Hicks,TRMC, City Secretary