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EPA drives off course for Fowler's Mill
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - September 30, 2010)
EPA drives off course for Fowler's Mill
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Golfers need not worry anymore about whether they will have the Fowler's Mill Golf Course to play.
Todd Petersen, who served as spokesman for the golf course's ownership group, said last week that he has no intention of dealing with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on any future deals for the course.
"That last letter reminded me of why I don't like dealing with the EPA," Mr. Petersen said.
That puts to bed any further talks involving Munson Township Trustees and future applications with the state for funding next year for the course.
An initial application by trustees to the state proposed paying $5.5 million for the entire 458-acre property.
After objections to the deal were made by golfers and township residents, a second option was explored that would have left the golf course open.
That deal would have protected 335 acres of the course under a conservation easement or an environmental covenant. That acreage would have included a 40-acre riparian corridor along the Chagrin River. The cost of that deal was set at $3.5 million.
The golf course would remain open, but four or five of the holes would have to be redesigned to accommodate the protected river corridor.
That deal was nixed, however, by EPA officials, who said the plan lacked the details needed to approve it.
Mr. Petersen said he thought the alternate plan was a good one and would have gone along with it. But he said the EPA convinced him they were looking for ways to kill the deal.
He said the details sought by the EPA were not sought for other projects that were being considered under its water resource restoration sponsorship program. "Those details don't exist for other projects," Mr. Petersen said.
Although an appraisal was being considered by the EPA for the Fowler's Mill project, appraisals were not required for others.
He said the EPA also was seeking detailed construction drawings and estimates for this project, a costly endeavor, which also were not required for others. "No one would be able to deal with that," he said.
Mr. Petersen said, while that project has fallen apart, he has no regrets. He said he happily will continue to run the Fowler's Mill Golf Course. "To have that, you know it isn't a bad day," he said.
As for ever dealing again with the EPA for the golf course, he said, golfers have nothing to fear. "Be rest assured, I will not be making any phone calls to the EPA," he said.
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