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Golf-course options discussed behind closed doors
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - August 25, 2010)
Golf-course options discussed behind closed doors
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Groups involved in discussions of the possible sale of Fowler's Mill Golf Course to Munson Township met last week behind closed doors to further discuss details, including alternate plans.
The meeting, held at Munson Township offices, included representatives of the township, the golf course owners' group, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, state Sen. Timothy Grendell, R-Chester, and the Chagrin River Watershed Partners.
Township Trustee Andy Bushman said the parties discussed the proposed $5 million sale of 450 acres and clubhouse. The majority of the money is to be provided through a state grant.
In addition, discussion revolved around an alternate plan, Mr. Bushman said. "It would be different than originally stated."
Although officials would not discuss specifics of those alternate plans, Mr. Grendell had offered one a week earlier during a public hearing on the issue. He suggested that officials could look to preserve the river corridor. It covers 1.2 miles of the Chagrin River, which is designated by the state as a scenic river.
Mr. Grendell proposed that preserving the river corridor would allow for the continuation of the 27-hole golf course there that was designed by noted golf-course architect Pete Dye. He said four or five of the golf holes would have to redesigned if the river were returned to its natural state.
Mr. Bushman said he also learned that the EPA is reviewing the appraisal, which places its value at $5.4 million.
Mike Settles, an EPA media coordinator, said he would not discuss the specifics of what the agency's review involves. He said officials are willing to consider alternate plans, rather than buying the entire property, if it could be submitted by this week. "We told them, if they could get it to us by next week, we might consider it," he said.
An evaluation of the appraisal is being done but could not be discussed, Mr. Settles said. "We are evaluating the appraisal, but beyond that we can't go into any detail on that."
Todd Petersen, one of the partners in the ownership group, said he has no problems with a review of the appraisal.
Although some people saw problems that the property was appraised as a golf course, Mr. Petersen said, there was no other way to look at it. "I would appraise it as a Pete Dye golf course," he said.
He said one detractor during the public hearing compared the golf course to a Rembrandt that was being thrown to the ground and stomped on. Yet, he said, that same person said the appraisal was too high for the "Rembrandt."
He said the ownership group initially sought a higher figure for the sale, but Chris Knopf, of Blue Green Solutions, negotiated the price down, and the appraisal then supported the lower price. "We came down as a result of the appraisal," Mr. Petersen said.
When asked if he would sell the property if the state's evaluation came back at an even lower price, Mr. Petersen said, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
He said he would be "very, very, very surprised" if the appraisal came back different than what it was originally appraised at.
He said the 27-hole golf course and 10-year-old clubhouse are well worth the money that is being sought. "We're completely comfortable with that evaluation," Mr. Petersen said.
He said neither his development group nor his father Jerry Peterson's development group had a working relationship with the appraiser, George F. Weisenbach Jr., of Devco Inc.
While there is a "remote possibility" he may have in the past worked on one of the developers' projects, there has been no "long-standing relationship" between the two, Mr. Petersen said.
He said it was Mr. Knopf who chose the appraiser for the work, not him. "He had to introduce himself when we met," he said.
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