Wait-See Approach to Golf Course

News that the Montage Resort & Spa is weighing a possible golf course in a wilderness park outraged some in Laguna Beach on Friday. But others, including several City Council members, said they want to wait and see what kind of deal the hotel may offer before making up their minds.

Officials with the Montage -- which recently acquired the Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course and other property adjoining the Aliso & Woods Canyon Wilderness Park -- are considering an expansion that would include an 18-hole championship course along Aliso Creek.

The plan has not been submitted to Orange County, which owns the parkland, or the city, which has jurisdiction over other parts of the project.

An article in The Times on Friday quoted county officials and others who have seen the golf course proposal. While the Montage has “no definite plans” for such an expansion, resort spokeswoman Marguerite Clark said, “We think it would be great to have an 18-hole golf course for our guests and the community, and we’ve been looking at various options for the land use.”

News of the plan prompted concern by some in Laguna Beach, where development is a key issue in this year’s City Council campaign.

“I about had a heart attack,” said Grant Curtis, president of the SHARE Mountain Bike Club, which maintains the single-track riding trails in Orange County. “My cell was ringing off the hook today and my e-mail was packed. I hate to see any loss of open space to golf courses, which I think we have plenty of in Orange County.”

Rick Wilson, coastal management coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation, said golf courses can create runoff problems because they use a lot of water, herbicides and other chemicals. And with flood threats, Aliso Creek would have to be stabilized to protect it from erosion and other damage, he said.

“Any development along a creek is not a good idea,” Wilson said. “And a golf course is of particular concern.”

Although the Montage has kept the expansion plans under wraps, concerns about the hotel’s recent property acquisitions have stirred the town in recent weeks. One City Council member running for re-election who has opposed the idea, Wayne Baglin, was the target of mail and newspaper advertising by a political committee that received $15,000 from Ohana Holdings, an investor in the Montage.

But the founder of the anti-Baglin committee that has taken out the advertising said Friday that he -- like Baglin -- opposes the golf course plan. Doug Kari, a senior vice president of the Laguna Beach computer firm Arbitech, said his opposition to the councilman is based on other issues.

“We’re running this campaign for reasons that are sincere and have to do with Wayne Baglin’s record on issues that are of concern to Laguna Beach,” he said. Kari has criticized Baglin for his stance on parking problems; he also contends Baglin is inaccessible to homeowners and behaves like a bully -- allegations the councilman denies.

“I don’t think Wayne Baglin is a greater champion of the environment than anyone else. And I don’t think unseating him is going to have an impact whatsoever on putting a golf course in the wilderness.”

Despite the concern, many said they will have to see what the Montage offers in exchange before they make up their minds on the proposed golf course. The hotel could offer open space elsewhere, for example, to make up for the development.

“I think the better part of valor is to find out what they’re really putting on the table,” said Toni Iseman, a member of the California Coastal Commission and a City Council member.

Another incumbent up for reelection, Cheryl Kinsman, said she has no position on the project. “I wouldn’t give any answer on something I’ve never seen,” said Kinsman. “I don’t care what it is.”

City Council candidate Jane Egly could not be reached Friday.

Councilman Steve Dicterow said he strongly believes protected parkland should stay that way, but could not rule out the idea if the hotel makes an offer too generous to refuse. “What if we’re talking 10 acres [of parkland] and the Montage is donating 1,000?” he said.

A coalition of environmental groups, Voices of Wilderness, also will probably wait to see what the hotel proposes, said Wilson of Surfrider.

A universal concern of coalition members is loss of open space, Wilson said.

“There’s going to be a long list of benefits the Montage will use to sell the thing to the public,” he said. “At this point, it’s difficult to say how the equation balances out: Is this really something the public should consider, or is the Montage trying to sell a bad project?”