Palm Harbor Municipal Golf Course Moves One Step Closer to Reality
Centex Palm Harbor Golf Course and Harborside Inn and Marina PUD amendments pass first reading of city council
October 3, 2007 – Palm Coast, Florida – As expected, there was a large turnout for the Palm Coast City Council meeting last night at the Community Center. The agenda included consideration of two PUD amendments proposed jointly by the city and Centex to pave the way for transfer of the golf course to the city :
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Palm Harbor Golf Course PUD
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Harborside Inn and
Passage of both amendments is a contingency to the agreement between
What was unexpected, however, was the fact that most of the people came to the meeting to speak about another issue – the FPL easement path. Once the easement issue was dealt with nearly half the attendees left, leaving the room half empty. The two Centex amendments then passed with a relative lack of controversy. Only a handful of individuals spoke during the public comment segment, most in favor of the changes.
Four of the five council members understood that the amendments were a joint effort between the city and Centex, the result of months of negotiation between the two parties. They also understood that failure to pass the amendments would result in the original PUDs remaining in force and the loss of the golf course. Only Councilman Peterson persisted on revisiting issues already cast in the original PUD, in a fruitless attempt to effectively reopen negotiations. In the end, Peterson cast the only dissenting vote against the Palm Harbor Golf Course PUD amendment. And even he relented to vote for the Harborside Inn and Marina PUD amendment, making it a unanimous decision.
The council showed its sensitivity to the problems resulting from Centex’s dismantling of the golf course prior to the suspension of the project. They instructed City Manager Landon to make sure that the marina remained viable during any future construction phase.
Jim Landon reported on the progress of joint negotiations with
The final reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday, October 16. Its passage will clear the way for the transfer of the golf course to the city.
Centex
After listening to and then reviewing the PLDRB’s hearing on the Centex project and then listening to the City Council’s hearing, I just give up. Whatever the PLDRB asked for Centex said no and the council said yes. Strongarm tactics, usually the negotiating tool of the City, was taken away and rested with Centex. My suggestion now then is that since the entry signs already have the C and t in Palm Coast that we can save the expense of two letters in renaming our City, Centex instead of Palm Coast. Guaranteed that had Centex made that a part of the golf course contribution, Mayor Canfield, councilpersons Venne,DiStefano and Netts would have voted for it.
What stake does the County have?
What stake does the County have in subsidizing a clubhouse and/or providing reduced rates to Flagler County residents? Aren’t they cutting budgets?
City Council Members
Council members voting in favor of the Centex Pud request,we commend you for your sensible decision.