Attention Walden Lake residents: Want to own your own golf course and country club?
If so, your chance may be coming.
For the first time since the battle between Walden Lake residents and Walden Lake Golf & Country Club owner Visions Golf LLC erupted last summer, Walden Lake Community Association leaders have broached the subject of buying the amenities altogether.
At the WLCA’s Dec. 16 meeting, President Jan Griffin asked newly appointed Director Rich Glorioso to put together a committee to study the option. The idea for originated from a resident, who contacted Griffin and requested the WLCA send a questionnaire to residents asking them whether they would want to purchase the golf course.
At first glance, it seems the most vocal opponents of Visions Golf’s redevelopment plans would leap at the chance to own the amenity. However, with no concrete numbers available, WLCA directors don’t know just how much it would cost to purchase the property and, more importantly, to improve and maintain it.
Glorioso said the first step would be to conduct a fact-finding mission to determine answers for some of the questions residents will ask.
“A lot of residents know what is going on, but some of them don’t know what is going on,” he said. “So, they have to know the pros and cons of buying the golf course. … How do you buy it from (Visions Golf)? How do you pay for it? What’s the cost?
“Our housing values are going down already,” he said. “If there is no golf course here, they are going to tank some more. In two years, they’re going to start building up in Cone Ranch. There’s going to be a big sucking sound coming out of Walden Lake, as people move out of here and go up there. And then, your housing values are going to fall more. So, that’s the bad side of it.
“The good side is if we can purchase it, would you be willing to pay to keep your housing values the way they are and have a nice country club?” Glorioso said.
The board discussed several logistical issues, including the wording of the questionnaire, how to handle delivering information to residents and even whether the course is for sale. Furthermore, purchasing the course would charge the WLCA with operating a business.
“How does the board feel about this, because this puts us in the position of operating a business?” said Vice President Jim Chancey. “We would hire someone to operate the golf course, but, in effect, we (the community) would be the owners.”
Director Bob Hunter cautioned that the board needs to exercise tact as it moves forward with the idea.
“While I like the idea, it’s not our choice, right now, to raise questions about the private property over there,” he said. “We’re asking a community publicly, ‘How much are you willing to pay for this guy’s property?’ And I think we need to be very careful there. I think it’s premature to put out a questionnaire in the next two or three months, when this guy still has a business.”
Although Visions Golf Managing Partner Steve Mercer declined to put a price tag on the property, he said he would entertain any and all offers.
“Everything is for sale,” he said.
Should the study determine that the purchase is desired and feasible, it then would be put to the entire community for a vote.
“One-hundred percent of the community (lots) has to have the votes, and two-thirds have to vote in the positive,” Griffin said.
SIGNS APPROVED
The WLCA board approved the purchase of two 4-foot-by-8-foot signs, which will be placed at each Timberlane Drive entrance in the community, from Bay Area Signs.
The signs will allow the board to post notices about meetings, events and other notices. Each aluminum sign will allow for four lines of text and utilize six-inch letters. They will come with lockable vandalism covers and will be installed close to the guard gates at both entrances.
The cost is $5,546, before sales tax and permitting, said communications committee chair Heather Updike.
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
• The winners of Walden Lake’s 2013 Christmas decoration contest include: Laurel Lake (large), Westwood (medium) and Forest Park (small).
• The WLCA has approved entering a one-year contract with existing property management company Associa. It also approved terminating the motion to pursue a contract with L.E. Wilson and Associates.