PH ORD-1997-003 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments - Golf Course Standards

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Ms. Emily Cameron Page Two January 22, 1997 3. We question why golf courses within residential developments have to be permitted under a special use permit. Golf courses enhance the environment as compared to a higher density residential area. Properly planned together, golf courses are a nice amenity to a housing development, as evidenced by their popularity in Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Pinehurst and other Carolina resort destinations. 4. Golf courses should not be summarily prohibited from critical areas of protected watersheds. Properly designed, golf courses can enhance flood protection, water filtration and purification, etc. We applaud your allowing special clearing of trees and stream buffer areas where they might block the line of play. 5. In reviewing the specific requirements for a golf course design, including minimum setback buffers, standards for parking lot, road layout and buffers, it is easy to highlight existing courses that probably violate the stringent rules, and yet are considered good neighbors. One is The Quarry Golf Club in San Antonio, which is sunk 100-feet into a vertical wall stone quarry. Under similar circumstances would the 75-feet from tee, and 100-feet from fairway centerline still be required under this ordinance? 6. While well-intended, some design requirements are subject to interpretation. For example, the phrases, "all vehicular and pedestrian surfaces shall be designed and graded to be visually unobtrusive...";"The course proposed shall be designed to fit the existing site conditions with minimal changes..."; and"Locations of...site elements shall be planned to minimize land disturbance and clearing of vegetation, and driving range shall be internally oriented..." all are well-intended, but would be incorporated by any qualified golf course architect anyway. Our concern is that, being subject to wide interpretation, these phrases could possibly be used as "straw men"to question an otherwise qualified design. 7. The issue of increased civil penalties above and beyond what might be required for other developments in the zoning ordinance should not be based on the presumption that golf courses are eitlzr particularly complex, or more prone by nature to be subject to violations of any zoning.ordinance. Although this is an issue that fits the national ongoing debate of penalties and regulations versus incentive and conservation, more consideration should be given to this area.