Will Sienna's Golf Course End Up Like Quail Valleys?

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Comment: COULD THIS HAPPEN TO SIENNA’S GOLF COURSE IN A FEW YEARS? What happened for plans to the South Sienna Golf Course???

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Missouri City Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-2 last week to send a negative recommendation to the Missouri City City Council on rezoning the par-3 golf course in Quail Valley from a community facility to a residential development.

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An overflow crowd of Quail Valley residents were on hand last Wednesday to voice their opposition to the rezoning request.
Hugh Conser, an agent for Quail Valley Country Club, requested rezoning of 17.5 acres of land located northeast of Wells Fargo Bank on FM 1092 to a single-family residential district. This would allow proposed development of 54 homes by Ryland Homes on the site.

John Joseph, the seller and applicant, presented his case for selling the property which he described as a "non performing asset of the club and the city."

Joseph said inability to collect golf fees led to closing of the golf course in September 2003.
Subsequent attempts to generate interest in using the site for a park were unsuccessful. "We are trying to be successful in this business, and I'd rather not have to sell it, but if there were more members of the club that lived on that property, we wouldn't be here tonight."

Joseph said that a proposal was made to sell the property to the Quail Valley Fund which was rejected. When Ryland Homes expressed interest in building on the property, Joseph jumped on the offer because of the homebuilder's reputation, financial stability and professionalism.

Ryland prepared a site plan including 54 homes with possible plans for an amenity lake.
Brian Williams, a representative with Ryland Homes,said the proposed homes will range from 1,800 to 3,000 sq. ft and start at $170,000.

According to Williams, the average resale value of existing homes in the immediate vicinity of the Par 3 course ranges from $150,000 to $160,000. Construction on the project is targeted for 2007.
Joseph believed that the proposed site plan was the "best use of the property" based on its location in an established golf-oriented community, the site's ability to lend itself to the building of 54 homes, and the location of the property directly across from a development owned by Beazer Homes that proved successful.
The Quail Valley residents did not agree with Joseph's assessment.
Among them, Stephanie Richards, who served as spokesperson for Thunderbird West homeowner's association. Richards said that of the 419 homes in the area, a good number back up on the golf course. "Those homeowners were required to pay a $2,000 to $3,000 premium for their lots," she said. "

When the golf course is removed from behind these 52 homes their property values will decline, and the depreciation will also impact the rest of the homes in the area." She also expressed concerns that a traffic study had not been conducted by the applicant; and that residents would be impacted by significant traffic congestion with the development of additional residential homes in the area. Richards also expressed concerns about flooding that might occur as a result of new construction.

Reginald Ingram, another resident of Quail Valley, lives in one of the homes that backs up to the Par 3 course. Ingram believes that if the property is rezoned, the executive golf course will be next, and then the 18-hole courses. "Progress does not always mean more buildings," said Ingram. "Progress can mean maintaining and improving the existing green space we do have. Unfortunately we don't have a good corporate neighbor that is proposing to sell off the property in the area and eliminate more green space." Ingram requested the commissioners to reject the zoning request.
Issues voiced by the majority of residents at the hearing pertained to concerns over declining property values, increased traffic, increased potential for flooding, loss of quality of life and loss of green space in the area.
Don Johnson, a retired teacher, and vice president of Thunderbird West HOA, pointed to the recent sale of the fitness and tennis center, in addition to the Oak Point property, and said that the proposed sale of 17.5 acres would be the third such sale. "And number four is coming some where down the line," said Johnson.
Prior to a final vote, Commissioner Ron Lee said that the commission is responsible for considering the technical aspects of the zoning request and determining if everything has been submitted properly, and if so, then the commissioner's hands are tied. Lee said that he lives on the tenth hole of the La Quinta Golf Course, and he personally would not want someone to come in and close his view, but reiterated to the audience that the commission's position was to weigh things from a technical aspect.

Lee's remarks were countered by Commissioner Bruce Bodson who said the commission was "bound by the rules, but not hamstrung."

A majority of commissioners voted (6 to 2) against rezoning of the property, with Lee and Commissioner Hugh Brightwell voting to approve the rezoning request. When contacted for comment, Lee said he voted in favor of rezoning because he believed that it would improve the area. Commissioner John O'Malley, one of six commissioners voting against the rezoning, spoke strongly against rezoning during the hearing. "If you start judging things based on its economic benefit you could easily make the argument that you couldn't maintain the executive (golf course)," said O'Malley. When Joseph indicated that the commissioner's real concern was the potential impact on his own personal property, O'Malley, responded, "If I'm trying to protect the executive course or even the course I live on, I need to have the same passion about protecting the people on the Par 3 course." Joseph's assurances that there are no more plans to rezone any other properties in the area, were met with groans of disbelief by the residents in attendance. . .