Supes To Try to Preserve Public Golf Course

At Tuesday's San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, the board will consider what can be done to preserve the future of one of only two public golf courses in the county. 

Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica is on a plot of land that is owned and operated by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. It is home to the threatened red legged-frog and endangered San Francisco garter snake. A suit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, based in Tucson, Arizona, seeks to have the course shut down in order to preserve the habitat for those species.

Though a federal judge denied a temporary injunction requested by plaintiffs to curb golf until the suit is decided, the case will continue in July.

The county fears for the potential loss it may suffer should the course be closed.

"Closing the golf course would have a negative impact on the City of Pacifica both environmentally and economically," said the report. "The City would lose park land and the esthetic beauty of a public golf course right on the ocean."

In the meantime, the county believes that the plot of land could be redesigned in a fashion that would allow for the rare species to exist without intrusion, as well as keep the golf course in operation.

If approved by supervisors, the County Manager's office could enter into negotiations for a possible partnership between San Mateo County and the City and County of San Francisco regarding how Sharp Park is handled in the future.

Stanford Weekend Acres

Additionally, the Board will again hear a proposal by Ramin Shahidi to develop his property in the Stanford Weekend Acres community, an unincorporated region of the county.

Shahidi's previous proposal to build a large home on the same property prompted supervisors - amidst outrage from neighbors - to alter zoning regulations that would limit homes of that size from being built in the community.

His most recent proposal is to split his current plot of land into two parcels, on which he hopes to build two separate homes, each approximately 2,000 square feet, rather than one large home.

As part of the proposal, Shahidi has agreed to demolish an existing structure on his property which hangs near a cliff backing up onto San Francisquito Creek that county administrators believe poses a threat for erosion.

"Approval of this project will allow the County to require the demolition and relocation of the rear residence and will therefore minimize health and safety concerns and potential impacts to San Francisquito Creek," said the report.

The county has no authority to require the structure's demolition without approving the parcel subdivision, said the report.

The Board of Supervisors meets to address these issues, and more, Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. in the board chambers located at 400 County Center, Redwood City.

To view the full agenda for the meeting, click here.