Golf Course at Lake Hodges Raises Hopes

After nearly five years of haggling, the City of San Diego and residents of this North City community may be near agreement on the fate of about 300 acres near Lake Hodges that are owned by the city Water Utilities Department.

The newest proposal, which has a championship-size 18-hole golf course as its centerpiece, will be presented today to the council Public Facilities and Recreation Committee. It was endorsed by the Rancho Bernardo Planning Board last week.

“This time, I think our chances of getting something approved that meets the needs of everyone involved are very good,” said Bob Trettin, an aide to Councilman Bill Mitchell, who represents Rancho Bernardo. “The community favors it, and so does Councilman Mitchell.”

Besides the golf course, to be built by JC Resorts (developer of the Rancho Bernardo Inn), the proposal includes a continuing education center for courses offered by San Diego State University that also would be used for community meetings; a plant preserve and jogging trails. Before any construction could begin, a lease arrangement between JC Resorts and the Water Utilities Department would have to be worked out and approved by the City Council.

The Rancho Bernardo performing arts center is destined for Water Utilities Department land nearby, and a 30-acre community park is already in place.

Gus Colachis, vice president in charge of real estate for JC Resorts, said the $5-million golf course could be finished by September, 1986. “The community has been very receptive to this idea,” Colachis said. “We feel this is an excellent way to enhance the inn and to provide more golf for local residents. Golf is an extremely popular activity in R.B.”

“We’ve had a number of public hearings and done extensive surveys within the community,” said Kenneth Gerard, chairman of the local planning board. “If we find this is compatible with existing plans for the area and meets the approval of (city property managers), we’ll be anxious to move forward.”

Rancho Bernardo residents and the city have for years attempted to devise a formula for earning revenue from the Water Utilities Department land while maintaining the greenbelt near Lake Hodges.

“The department is always looking to achieve revenues from any land that is not essential to lake needs,” Trettin said.

“It would cost probably $12 million to $15 million to purchase the land from water utilities to dedicate it as open space, and that’s unrealistic. But a lease situation such as the one envisioned here should be a good compromise for all concerned.”

Several years ago, the forces promoting construction of the performing arts center envisioned a 20,000-seat theater on the lakefront. To pay for the theater, it was proposed that a large resort hotel, restaurant and office center be built on the Water Utilities Department property.

But there was widespread opposition to that plan, as residents expressed fears that the development would cause considerable traffic and parking problems and spoil the natural environment of the lake. Eventually, an open-air theater with seats for 2,500 spectators and lawn space for an additional 7,500 was agreed upon, and the plans for the accompanying development were shelved.

“It’s obvious that the community favors maximum access to the lake and preservation of as much open space as possible,” Gerard said. “This plan seems to offer that--and the potential to earn some lease revenue from the land as well.”