Decker Lake Golf LLC has proposed a golf course at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park.[/caption]A 75-acre golf course development proposed for Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park in East Austin continues to face a mix of criticism and support.
The Austin City Council Economic Opportunity Committee met April 13 to discuss what kind of economic benefits could come as a result of the proposed mutli-course facility, which would be operated by a nonprofit organization. The Parks and Recreation Department has consistently supported the project because the department does not otherwise have the money to make any improvements necessary to open the park to the public.
The proposed course falls within District 1, home of Councilwoman Ora Houston. Even though a golf course may not be the best option for the land, she said, the neighbors in East Austin have waited too long for economic development opportunities—and this is finally their chance.
"We keep giving all kinds of excuses for not developing the land in the way it was proposed [in the master plan], and yet no one comes with what can be done on that land," Houston said.
No alternative proposals have been made to fund improvements to Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park, Houston said. She encouraged her fellow council members to support the proposal, which she said would provide jobs and possibly restaurants, retail and a grocery store, among other amenities.
District 7 Councilwoman Leslie Pool voiced concern that the amount of revenue the city of Austin would receive from the course has not been properly calculated. In previous City Council meetings, Pool said she does not want a golf course on the land and is concerned about how much water the golf course would use.
Because the City Council is considering a license agreement and not a land lease with Decker Lake Golf LLC, the issue is not legally required to be on a ballot or receive voter approval.
District 8 Councilwoman Ellen Troxclair, who chairs the Economic Opportunity Committee, laid out four recommendation options for her committee to consider:
- Recommend approval of the contract as written
- Recommend approval of the contract with some changes
- Recommend sending the issue to a ballot vote
- Recommend not approving the contract
The Economic Opportunity committee will vote what recommendation to approve during its May 11 meeting, Troxclair said. The committee's recommendations are supposed to return to the full council by the end of April, according to the resolution passed March 5.
