34 South Main St., Attleboro, MA - (508) 222-7000
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Rough time for NA golf course project
Top Headlines The proposal has stalled because the town and the developer have been unable to reach a financial agreement. Selectmen Chairman William Moffitt said the project is not dead, but said the two sides are too far apart to negotiate a deal in time for the June 18 special town meeting. Although an article seeking acceptance of the golf course lease has already been placed on the warrant for that town meeting, it will be rejected at that time. "I'm disappointed to bring this news because it is an exciting and interesting project," Moffitt said. "I'm not saying the project is dead in any way, but we're not close enough to bring it to town meeting." North Attleboro Golf Group is proposing to build a $3.5 million 18-hole golf course on 50 acres of town property. Negotiations have centered around two issues, Moffitt said: language protecting the town from any financial or other liabilities related to the golf course and procuring a fair rent. The liability issues have mostly been resolved, but Moffitt said it has been more difficult to come to an agreement on the rent despite four recent meetings between the parties and a number of e-mail exchanges. "We need to get a fair rent for what we're bringing to the project," Moffitt said. "We haven't come to an agreement on what a fair rent would be." A prior financial proposal was not greeted favorably by residents - most of whom felt the town was not getting enough for leasing 50 acres - during a public hearing. That proposal would have provided the town with an annual rent of $10,000, plus 4.8 percent of gross receipts from greens fees, founding memberships, inner club memberships on course sponsorships and golf car rental fees, which are estimated to bring in about $55,000 a year. The town would also save about $25,000 a year in landfill maintenance costs. The time frame for the lease, which had to be approved by the state Legislature, would be for 50 years with three 10-year extensions. Moffitt said negotiations will continue in the hopes of bringing the project forward at a future town meeting. Approval of a lease at town meeting would only be a first step in bringing a golf course to the former landfill. The project would still need to obtain numerous permits locally and at the state level.
Post Your Comments R. Lincoln wrote on May 18, 2007 12:37 PM: " All over the region, golf courses are suffering from declining revenue and membership. Market saturation is to blame. I remember as a kid what was thrown into and on that land, and burned there. I would condemn it as a hot spot for generations to come. " In Common wrote on May 18, 2007 12:15 PM: " What do the following have in common? They are all golf courses within the 6 miles (as the crow flies) of the proposed golf course on Landry.
Atlantic Golf-Attleboro,
Chemawa Golf Course - North Attleboro,
Highland Country Club - Attleboro,
Heather Hill Country Club -Plainville,
Locust Valley Country Club -Attleboro,
Stone-E-Lea Golf Course Inc - Attleboro,
Wentworth Hills Golf & Country -Wrentham,
Norton Country Club - Norton:
MGA Links At Mamantapettic - Norton,
Wading River Country Club - Norton.
Do the developers really think they can compete? All this and the Wall Street Journal says golf is LOSING popularity. This proposal reminds me of a an episode of the Simpsons where Marge is looking for a business. Disco Stu tries to sell her on the idea of his dance studios. Stu cites the explosive popularity of disco dancing. He does not say the data is from 1978. " Realist wrote on May 18, 2007 10:14 AM: " This area of town is relatively quiet on weekends. We don't need the traffic that the golf course is promising. Mount Hope Street from Elm to Elmwood will become a sunrise to sunset expressway on Saturday and Sunday. I also will hate to see the pond near my house choked with weeds from the fertilizer runoff from a golf course being uphill.
Somebody asked ealier what would the rent be on 50 acres of land. Does anyone know? " LRC wrote on May 18, 2007 9:34 AM: " I'd go for the wind farm. As a neighbor to this land we should be thinking about the effect it will have on the locals, both human and non-human. There are wild animals (including coyote) that live on this land; what's the mitigation fee fordisrupting their lives, and the subsequent disruption of the humans' lives? " Curious wrote on May 18, 2007 8:16 AM: " What is the going rate to lease a 50 acre tract of land? Anyone... Beuler? " WIND FARM! wrote on May 18, 2007 8:15 AM: " A half dozen shallow-anchor type turbines could provide the town offices with most of the power they need. And it would be a lot easier on the environment than a golf course. " RIP wrote on May 18, 2007 8:09 AM: " I hope the idea dies, just like the plants and wild life that would be killed by the run off into Falls Pond and the dozens are smaller ponds, springs and vernal pools in between. " or
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