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33 <br /> AMERICAN SOCIETY OF GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS <br /> 221 NORTH LA SALLE STREET <br /> CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601 <br /> 312-372-7090 410 <br /> January 22, 1997 <br /> Ms. Emily Cameron <br /> ASLA, Planner II/Landscape Architect <br /> Orange County Planning Department <br /> 306F Revere Road <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> Dear Ms. Cameron: <br /> Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the proposed amendments to the Orange County <br /> Zoning Ordinance and its inclusion of standards for golf courses in the county. We have <br /> forwarded the document to four ASGCA members in North Carolina-- Dan Maples, Tom Fazio, <br /> Michael Gleason, and Tom Marzolf-- who may have comments in addition to what follows. <br /> In some respects, this ordinance codifies existing ordinances and tries to adapt them to golf <br /> courses...in some cases being more stringent, and other cases being more relaxed. <br /> Each site should be evaluated on its own criteria by a qualified golf course architect. The <br /> committee is therefore wise to remove standardized acreage as required in the ordinance, and a <br /> review process of each design is more practical than setting specific standards. <br /> There are a few points where we have particular concern: <br /> 1. The document seems to build on the premise that golf courses present a special <br /> environmental challenge not associated with other developments. Actually, golf courses that <br /> are designed, constructed and maintained properly provide many environmental benefits. So <br /> the premise might be better understood as providing environmental opportunities, rather than <br /> challenges. <br /> 2. We must take exception to the phrase in the background section that reads, "...but to prevent <br /> degradation of the environment from golf course developments proposed in the future." <br /> Again, that wording implies that golf courses are harmful, which they are not. <br />