The golf course has been listed for sale on the internet. It appears on a commercial property website called loopnet.com. The listing can be found by clicking on the following link: Golf course for sale
Monthly Archives: June 2018
Morgan Creek Gate Operations
The gates are now operable, and we are in a transition period. Twenty-three home owners still need to complete their applications and obtain their RFID tags, adjustments need to be made to the mechanical systems for the gates and new procedures developed and approved by the Board. Following are some adjustments that are in progress that will improve access and egress from the community and reduce confusion in the operation of the gate system and call boxes.
- The old Morgan Creek Golf & Country Club green stickers ARE NO LONGER VALID. Residents need to remove them and replace with the NEW RED STICKERS (with numbers only) in the lower driver side of their windshield.
- Currently, many residents and visitors do not understand how to operate the scroll feature on the call boxes and are pushing the button and advancing name by name. This takes an inordinate amount of time, it causes lines to back up and it is frustrating for everyone involved. A clear instruction sticker will be placed on each call box next to the call button. It will read “PUSH AND HOLD TO SCROLL”. This is an easy but important fix and will happen soon.
- Currently, numerous residents and visitors are waiting for a car with an RFID tag to open the gates and then they are tailgating the car into the community. And, shockingly, a significant number of people wait for a car to exit the community and then recklessly enter through the exit gate. On more than one occasion, this dangerous maneuver has placed exiting drivers in serious jeopardy. The plan to mitigate this problem is to reduce the delay time before the gates start to close after a car passes through the gate. This should prevent drivers from entering through the exit gates and significantly reduce tailgating for entry.
- Discussions are in process with gate contractor to determine if the sound quality for the call boxes can be enhanced.
- Entry procedures for large parties and events are being developed.
- A new system for gate violations and fines are being developed.
- The effort continues to enroll the remaining 23 homeowners that have not submitted applications and received their RFID tags.
We know there has been a bit of a learning curve for everyone and we still have some technical issues to work out, but we hope you will bear with us until everything is up and running smoothly. We’d love to know what your experiences with the gates have been so far, and what you think can be done to improve their operation?
Our Meeting with Placer County Planning Department
On June 7, a small group representing the Morgan Creek HOA Board and the MCHC met with two senior members of the Placer County Planning Department. The purpose was to find current information regarding the County review and approval process for any proposed residential development of the golf course land. The meeting clarified the county review process and confirmed many of the challenges any developer would face.
- Could a developer build 100+ houses on golf course land? Not necessarily. There is no a priorientitlement to build 100+ houses. The area could accommodate more homes, but the number would depend on a complex analysis of zoning requirements, lot size/density restrictions, natural preserve and floodplain restrictions, and a specific proposed arrangement of lots.
- Could the area be rezoned to facilitate development? Yes, but rezoning would be a long and difficult process of its own.
- Would this be an unusually difficult area to develop? Yes, due to the nature of the area, open questions regarding vehicle and utility access, anticipated significant community objections, etc.
- How long would it take a developer to obtain approval for their project? A recommendation by the Planning Commission would normally take about 18 months from initial plan submittal. However, possible multiple iterations of plan reviews and revisions or significant community opposition could extend the process for years. Rezoning or an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision would require additional project review and approval by the Board of Supervisors, further extending the time and cost.
- Would an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be required? This scope of project would almost certainly require an EIR, which could take 18 months or more and cost from $200,000 to $1,000,000. The developer would be required to post funds to pay for the EIR in advance.
- Does community opinion carry much weight? Yes, community opinion is a significant factor in any project review process.
- How can the community voice its opinion? Besides informal meetings, there are multiple formal opportunities for public comment. They include public hearings regarding the EIR, Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) hearings, County Planning Commission hearings, and County Board of Supervisors hearings.
- Are the Dry Creek West Placer Community Plan and the Dry Creek Greenway Regional Vision still significant guiding documents for developments in the area? Yes, and both place strong emphasis on preservation of natural assets and open space.
- Could development occur within the floodplain or other preserve areas? No modification of or building on the floodplain would be allowed. Other restricted preserves would only be possible home sites if acceptable mitigation plans were presented.
- How can we stay informed if development plans are presented to the county?The planners agreed to notify us if a developer submits any plans for the golf course, as such actions are public information.
County Supervisor Event Recap
We had a wonderful turnout last night at the Morgan Creek Homeowner Coalition (MCHC) County Supervisor event. Thank you everyone who came out and participated! We were heartened to hear from Supervisor Duran that future of development of the golf course would take a herculean effort by any developer because of environmental and right-of-way restrictions. We are fortunate the golf course encompasses many protected wetlands, tree groves, floodplains and riparian corridors that can never be developed. Mr. Duran also assured us that community input is a critical component when deciding redevelopment issues, and our opposition would weigh heavily in those decisions. So let’s keep up the pressure and stay focused on our goals.