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PARKVIEW, from 1A
into .a purchase agreement
last month with the prop-
erty's owner, Parkview Golf
Associates. The agreement
is contingent upon a guide
plan change, rezoning and
plat approvals that would
allow a project to move for-
ward,
Shortly after Parkview
Golf Associates purchased
the course in 2001, it saw a
steady decline in custom-
ers and revenue, 'Parkview
co -owner Robert Zaviheim
said.
"Parkview is no longer a
viable Operation," he said.
Parkview's annual rounds
of golf dropped 25 percent
from 50,000 at its peak in
2007 to 37,000 in 2011..
Parkview's revenue has
fallen 17.5 percent in the
last four years. The course
incurred a loss of $142,211
in 2011.
Zaviheim said he has in-
vested $1 million in the golf
course since 2011 with no
return.
Parkview isn't alone in its
struggle, said Michael Abee
of Paradigm Golf Group,
a national golf. industry ex-
pert.
"We have an oversup-
ply'and decline in demand
in the industry right now
and Minneapolis is one of
the most saturated markets
in the nation," Abee said.
Last year marked the
first time more golf cours-
es closed nationwide than
opened, with 157 closures,
he said.
Parkview Golf Associ-
ates looked at other options
but felt selling the property
to developers was the only
viable one, Zaviheim said.
Zaviheirn's comments
didn't sway many of the
residents who crowded the
Eagan council chambers.
Preserving green
space
Several residents urged
the city to consider the
benefits of an 18 -hole golf
course.
Mark Wanous, a coach
for Eastview High School
boys golf, noted that
Parkview provides a place
for youth camps.
"There's a niche for
Parkview, "' Wanous said.
"It's not just about a game
of golf, it's about what it
teaches kids."
Zaviheim noted that
demand for youth golf at
Parkview has dropped 40
percent, from 500 partici
pants in 2007 to 300 in 2011.
Maguire added that the
council doesn't have the
authority to preserve the.
property as a golf course.
Under the existing zon-
ing, Parkview's owner has
the fight to change it - into
a number of things, from a
gun range to a campground
or nursery, he said.
Some residents suggested
the city should purchase the
property for a municipal
golf course.
Julie Sydell Johnson, di-
rector of Eagan Parks and
Recreation, said the depart-
ment has studied the issue
and has determined a mu-
nicipal golf course would
not be viable.
Sydell Johnson also not-
ed that a 2008 referendum
that would have enabled the
city to purchase Carriage
Hills golf course for $10.5
million failed.
Others urged Parkview
Golf Associates to consider
other options or further
market the course to poten-
tial buyers.
Council members agreed
with Zaviheim, who said the
association has struggled to
find other private buyers in
the current market.
"It's clear that there
might be slim opportunity
for a white knight to come
through and buy the prop-
erty to preserve it as a golf
course," Council Member
Gary Hansen said.
Several residents claimed
the agreement between
Hunter Emerson and
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This threatening letter was sent to Eagan City Council
members this week. Mayor Mike Maguire read it aloud
during a June 19 public hearing on a proposed guide plan
amendment for Parkview Golf Course. If approved, the
amendment will change Parkview's guided use from private
recreation to low- density residential.
Parkview raised the price,
making it difficult for any-
one else to bid on.
Other residents; such as
Mark 'Skweres, said they
worry Eagan will lose more
green space.
"I 'believe open space
is the highest and best use
of land. It serves as abuf-
fer between neighborhoods
and should be preserved,"
Skweres said.
Friends of Eagan Core
Greenway also sent the
council a letter opposing the
guide plan amendment, say -
ing, "We would like to work
with the (city of Eagan) and
the landowners to explore
alternative solutions."
City Administrator Tom
Hedges noted that efforts
are being made in the city
to preserve green space, in-
cluding preserving Patrick
Eagan Park l I years ago.
Hedges added that
Parkview is not apart of the
recognized Eagan Core Gre-
enway.
Kurt Manley, spokes-
man for Hunter Emerson,
promised the developer will
preserve some green spaces
as parks within the develop-
ment.
Pointing to the Fairview
neighborhood's history of
flooding, Skweres expressed
concerns about water qual-
ity and flooding.
Eagan Public Works Di-
rector Russ Matthys assured
the council and residents
that water quality issues
would be examined prior to
a project being approved.
He added that phospho-
rous levels would likely be
lower with a residential 'de-
velopment than with a. golf
course, which is permitted
to use higher levels of phos-
phorous in its fertilizers.
Other residents expressed
SUN THISWEEK - Burnsville / Eagan June 22,2012, 3A
concern that the developer
would walk away from a
project as some have in oth-
er suburbs.
Eagan, unlike some out-
er -ring suburbs, has not en-
countered developers who
have walked away from a
project, said Jon Hohen-
stein, Eagan's economic de-
velopment director. -
This is in large part due
to the city's strict rules per-
taining to financing, he said,
Hunter Emerson admit-
ted it recently abandoned a
project in Prior Lake after
its finance company went
belly up.
"We had to turn it over to
the receiver," Manley said.
"We had no choice in the
matter."
This issue would be
avoided in Eagan, which
only allows secured banks,
not finance companies, to
back development projects.
Eagan real estate agent
Keith Hittner was the only
resident to vocally support
the proposal, saying he be-
lieves a housing develop-
ment would boost home
prices in the surrounding
'neighborhoods.
The council concluded
redevelopment seems to
be the most viable option.
Council members also said
they fear if they left the
property owner without a
viable option, the city could
face litigation as it did in the
Carriage Hills development.
"We cant favor a public
benefit that disproportion-
ately falls on a private prop-
erty owner," Maguire said.
In 2004, the coun-
cil declined to change its
guide plan to allow Wens -
mann Homes to develop
the property. The city was
subsequently sued by the
developer, who claimed it
incurred losses as a result
of the council's decision.
The case eventually went to
Minnesota Supreme Court
in 2007, and the city., settled
with the developer before a
ruling could be made.
Though Wensmann
tended to redevelop the
property, its plans were
stalled in 2008 by the reces -,
sion. Another developer has
since started construction
on the property.
Maguire urged residents
to continue to participate in
the discussion with the city
and developers as the pro-
cess moves along.
Skweres said he is dis-
heartened by the council's
decision to send the guide
plan amendment proposal
to the Met Council.
"This amendment says
they don't value open space
as they say," he said.
Campbell, too, is disap-
pointed in the council's deci-
sion but said he understands
it is trying to protect tax-
payer funds from potential
litigation.
If the Met Council ap-
proves the amendment, it
will go back to the council
for approval. An approval
of the guide plan amend-
ment doesn't guarantee a
development can move for-
ward.
Several steps will need
to be taken 'before the de-
veloper can break ground.
Among other things, the ;
City Council would need to:
rezone the site as residential
and -approve detailed plans
before the project can move
forward.
The Planning Commis-
sion voted May 22 to rec-
ommend against changing
the guide plan for housing.
Jessica Harper is at jes-
sica.har -per @ecna- inc.com or•
facebook. comisunthisrveelc.
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