From: Bill Behan
To: webCityClerk
Cc: Rex Choe
Subject: Re: Tonight"s Brentwood City Council Meeting - Brentwood Golf Club -Maintenance Yard Discussion/Decision.
Date: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 8:04:45 AM
CAUTION – EXTERNAL SENDER
I will not be able to attend tonight’s meeting. I am resending my August 21 just in case a City Council or Planning Commission member may have not received. I appreciate your consideration.
Thank You,
Bill Behan
Brentwood
From: Bill Behan
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 8:35 AM
To: [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: Rex Choe; Bill Behan
Subject: Brentwood Golf Club -Maintenance Yard Decision/Approval To: All Members of the Brentwood City Council and Planning Commission cc: Rex Choe
My name is Bill Behan. I am a fourteen year resident of Summerset 11 and I have a home on the Brentwood Golf Course – Hillside #7. The purpose of my memo is to respectfully ask the members of the Brentwood City Council and Planning Committee to work with Rex Choe regarding your upcoming vote on September 12 by allowing Rex to proceed with building his maintenance yard with strict requirements regarding it’s use, the placement of security lights and the placement and upkeep of perimeter landscaping.
I know nothing about designing or operating a golf course however I do question why 25-30 years ago the city approved a plan allowing Black Hawk Nunn (BHN) to build the golf course maintenance building and storage yard on adjacent land they owned and zoned for commercial use with the intent to sell separately in the future. My guess since BHN also planned to eventually sell the golf course it made economic sense to build a few more homes with premium lot prices on land where a maintenance facility should have been built and let the future owner(s) deal with the challenging and costly situation Rex is faced with today.
Fast forward to today – The Merrill Gardens Assisted Living complex and the 84 home Shea development has replaced the 9 hole executive course, driving range and golf course maintenance complex. The once beautiful nine hole Diablo course, that was built to sell Summerset 1 homes with premium lot prices in the $30-$50,000 range and is what helped put Brentwood on the map in the early 90’s, is now closed. All that remains are the two 9 hole courses that intertwines within Summersets 11, 111 and IV .
During the past four years Rex has been working non stop to repair the years of neglect and infrastructure problems, especially the broken irrigation system, to make the course once again playable and economically viable. And considering all the distractions, obstacles and set backs including diverting limited dollars to paint the Balfour and Fairview bridges, the lost income due to COVID and the heavy rains earlier this year plus inflation and the resultant increased costs to operate the course - Rex deserves our thanks for not quitting and closing shop. And the results of Rex’s commitment and hard work speaks for itself as it has been years since the tee boxes, fairways and greens have all looked and played as well as they do today.
I think it is also worth noting, golf courses built inside communities just like Summerset are closing at a faster rate than new ones are being built. A recent Wall Street Journal article discussed the resultant decline in home values in communities just like Summerset after the golf course closes with guidance to think twice about living the dream of purchasing a home on a golf course.
Rex took control of the course after years of neglect and I’m guessing it’s going to take the same number of years to address all the areas of concern especially the non playing areas like the ponds and perimeter areas. Rex has demonstrated his passion and commitment to make the Brentwood Golf Course the destination course it once was years ago. I believe Rex has earned the right to seek and receive the same commitment from the community ,especially from our city leaders, to continue supporting his efforts by approving his plan for the maintenance yard.
Thanks for Listening.
Respectfully yours,
Bill Behan
Brentwood
Sent from Mail for Windows
From: Sinziana Todor
To: =yCouncil Members
Subject: 9/12/2023 public comment - business item H6
Date: Monday, September 11, 2023 11:34:57 AM
CAUTION – EXTERNAL SENDER
Hello,
I would like to ask to move business item H6 at the top of the agenda.
This is a public interest item and having it at the end of the agenda will not allow for residents to participate as the meeting could go late in the evening. Residents have children to tuck in bed at night, getting ready for early commutes, so moving this item up will maximize public participation.
Thank you,
Sinziana Todor