County Revives Bonelli Park Golf Center Plan

Rebuffed in its first attempt to commercially develop part of Bonelli Regional Park, the County Board of Supervisors started over Thursday by approving a plan to build a new 16-acre golf center there. The center would be next to Mountain Meadows Golf Course, which is just east of the park.

The supervisors, whose solicitation of bids for the same project last summer was nullified in court, referred the golf center plan to the park’s Joint Powers Authority, which is composed of representatives from six nearby cities. The county asked the authority to work with it in requesting bids for the project.

By including the authority in the bidding process, the county apparently complies with a January ruling by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, who said the county must consult the park authority on projects.

Lawsuit Filed

The issue of legal control over park projects was raised in a lawsuit filed last year by a citizens group called the Coalition to Preserve Bonelli Park. The group opposes not only development at the golf course, but also a 500-horse equestrian boarding center, a 100-room hotel, 22 chalets and a 24,000-square-foot restaurant and bar. All are part of a proposed updated Bonelli master plan.

At the request of Supervisor Pete Schabarum, who represents the San Gabriel Valley, only the golf center development was considered by the board last week.

A spokeswoman for Schabarum--who has eliminated an amphitheater and fishing wharf from the proposed master plan--said the remaining projects are compatible with the park.

“Those are ideas he could support” when they are formally proposed, said Schabarum aide Judy Hammond. “But at this time he’s talking only about the golf course. Pete’s position is if we don’t even know if there is anyone interested, why should we go through the hassle?”

No bids were submitted when the county requested proposals for the equestrian center last summer.

The proposed golf center would include a driving range, a chipping green, two putting greens and a clubhouse. The supervisors also approved leasing the county-run Mountain Meadows course to a private operator, who would have to build a banquet room and make other improvements.

The county, which leases 16 of its 20 golf courses, would receive at least $750,000 a year on the deal by 1992, according to park officials.