San Mateo County Times
March 22, 2006

Developer abandons plans for new golf course in park

by Nicole Neroulias

In an abrupt victory for the Friends of Bayfront Park, a developer has quietly abandoned plans to build a golf course atop the city's eastern expanse of marshes and hills.

"Highlands Golf LLC has decided after some back-and-forth negotiations to withdraw and not to pursue their application," announced Bill McClure, city attorney, at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Craig Price, Highlands Golf owner, could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

Bayfront Park, a 160-acre former landfill, was converted into the city's largest park and designated for passive recreation in 1984.

Citing its $187,000 annual maintenance costs and Menlo Park's shortage of playing fields, City Council voted in November to pursue negotiations with Highlands Golf to build an 18-hole executive golf course and three playing fields at the park.

In response, a group of residents and regional supporters formed the Friends of Bayfront Park, launching a campaign to preserving the park as open space.

The group collected hundreds of signatures and publicly censured city officials for moving forward without consulting the Bay Conservation and Development Commission and other regulatory agencies about whether they would permit development on wetlands that served as a mitigation for the landfill.

During the negotiations with Highlands Golf over the company's 55-year lease application, city staff had submitted some concerns, Public Works Director Kent Steffens said.

At Councilwoman Lee Duboc's request, council will discuss the possibility of developing playing fields at the park at a future meeting.

Page last updated September 13, 2010 .