The Glen Annie golf course, approved in 1993, is bleeding $1 million in losses a year, and the owners contended that they needed to build the homes otherwise the course would be doomed.
But a majority of the council countered that the city does not need more housing in that area, that traffic is already clogged near the high school, and that golf is not a recreational priority for a majority of area’s residents.
“I have a lot of concern about housing development on this site,” said Goleta councilwoman Margaret Connell. “I am not sure a golf course is necessarily an essential recreational facility for our city.”
What was particularly stinging about last night’s rebuke was that the council stopped the project in its tracks – before it had developed into a formal proposal. The owners were simply requesting that the council consider annexing the county property into Goleta and get the ball rolling for a potential general plan amendment.
But councilmembers Connell, Ed Easton, and Goleta Mayor Roger Aceves pulled the rug out from under the project before it even got any further.
“It is better to say no at the beginning than go through a whole process,” Connell said.
Marketed as “The Glen Annie Fields” project, the proposal consisted of reconfiguring the course into a smaller playing area, adding 185 new homes, constructing trails and soccer fields, and widening of Cathedral Oaks Road.
Developer John Dewey told the council last night that the golf course is struggling financially and is several million dollars in debt.
“We’re not financially sustainable today,” he said.
The developers had support from many of the speakers, including Peter Jordano, president of Jordano’s.
“I am for this project,” he said. “I would hate to see this project go away.”
From golf to soccer fields, Jordano said the project offered too many benefits for the council not to explore the idea more closely.
“We have to be creative and find a way to make this a viable project from a financial standpoint,” Jordano said.
The Glen Annie Golf Club General Manager Rich Nahas attempted to portray the golf course as a community facility. He said it would be “tragic” if the course were to shut down.
“This property is much more than a golf course,” Nahas said. “It is really an integral part of the city.”
But there were several members of the public who scoffed at such an idea. They said that the club has a bad business model and allowing housing is not the answer.
“The citizens have much to lose,” said Goleta resident Barbara Massey. “The traffic alone will be a problem. The citizens of Goleta do not want agriculture land changed to residential. Please don’t sell us out.”
Last night’s vote prompted some huffy moments.
Pro-business and development councilman Eric Onnen was noticeably agitated when it became clear that he didn’t have enough votes to push the project through. In a move uncharacteristic of elected officials, Onnen offered several apologies for the council’s rejection of the proposal.
“I want to say sorry to the community,” Onnen said. “I want to say sorry that we are not going to explore the opportunity for more recreational opportunities.”
A seemingly angry Onnen said his contrarian colleagues were backing away from making a tough decision by not allowing further study.
Onnen, the owner of Santa Barbara Airbus, said he didn’t believe that cutting off further study was appropriate. He disagreed with Connell’s contention that if the council knew that it didn’t like the project now, it would better for the council to stomp out the proposal early so that the developer would not get false hope.
“I don’t know that that is the kind of decision-making process we committed to when we came here,” he said. “I am sorely disappointed.”
Councilman Michael Bennett agreed with Onnen. He said that when he was campaigning for office many residents asked him to save the golf course.
“I am sorry it didn’t work out,” Bennett said. “What leadership is about is making those tough decisions when the rubber hits the road.”