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MEMORANDUM June 11, 1992 TO: City Council FROM: John Etter, Public Works SUBJECT: Golf Proposal for Golden Gardens Golf In the summer of 1991, the PARCS planning office received an inquiry from a realtor representing the land around our Golden Gardens Parks on the north edge of the Bethel area. The question from the realtor related to the pro - posed development of a golf course in this area. The Golden Gardens Park site (see attached map) is a former Land County bor- row pit, 36.35 acres in size, with water surface on about half of the area. The A -2 storm drainage channel flows westerly across the south end of the site. A bridge that crosses the channel at the end of Golden Gardens Drive is closed to vehicular traffic due to deterioration, but allows pedestrian traffic access to the northern portion. The county deeded it to the city in 1974 with the restriction that it be used for park purposes only. This area is outside the urban growth boundary, although the urban growth boundary is common to the north edge of the residential area and the south edge of Golden Gardens Park, and to the neighboring lands east and west of the park. It is zoned for agricultural use. Both golf courses and parks are conditionally permitted in that zone, with the county being the permitting agency. The Eugene Parks and Recreation Plan, adopted in May, 1989, calls for the city to expand the Golden Gardens area by acquiring 200 or more acres for a municipal golf course and a 45 acre community park. Because many features of community parks already exist at other locations in the Bethel area (communi- ty center, sports fields, tennis courts and swimming pool), and because of the City's financial situation, staff will recommend in the next revision of the Plan that the community park at this location be downsized to a neighbor- hood park to serve only the adjacent residential neighborhood. The Golden Gardens site has minimal use at this time. The City has permitted a retriever dog club to conduct occasional competitive events and training opportunities at the ponds. This is an informal understanding that can be ended when a higher and better used is identified. In discussing the golf proposal informally with the realtor, city staff iden- tified some requirements and conditions that would have to be addressed: 1. Access must be taken from Clear Lake Road to the north (no access through residential areas to the south); 2. Space must be provided for a neighborhood park at the north end of Golden Gardens and Melrose Streets; 3. There must be no expansion of the urban growth boundary to accommodate