Funding OK’d for golf course profitablility studies

Original plans for changes to Sligo Creek called for driving range, miniature golf

Although the agency would fully fund the project, the County Council must approve all Capital Improvements Program requests. County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) recommended deferring the changes until community concerns have been resolved, according to the county’s Office of Management and Budget.

The Revenue Authority then withdrew its initial request, asking instead for $100,000 that would be used only if the agency decided to pursue additional studies or develop new plans for the course, said Keith Miller, executive director of the Revenue Authority.

The County Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee agreed to recommend the funding request at a meeting Feb. 12. The full County Council will hear that request, along with all other CIP requests, in May.

‘‘What we would spend the $100,000 on is really unclear right now. ... Whether we’ll need future studies, or plans for a new project, really hasn’t been determined,” Miller said Tuesday. ‘‘Bottom line is still that something needs to happen at Sligo Creek.”

At the committee meeting, County Council members Marc Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park and Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park were concerned that the Sligo Creek course’s proposed renovations were meant to pay for shortfalls at other golf courses and asked what the additional funding would do toward addressing community concerns.

Miller said Tuesday it was Sligo Creek that was being subsidized by the Revenue Authority, and that the agency had also withdrawn funding requests to pay for renovations at Needwood and Northwest Park golf courses until a decision on Sligo Creek is made. Sligo Creek was projected to lose $170,000 in fiscal 2008, compared to a net loss of about $100,700 the previous fiscal year.

The Revenue Authority’s main focus is now on forming an advisory group that could work with the agency on new ideas, Miller said. Anne Randall, who lives near the course, said she was interested in participating to make sure those in the course’s immediate vicinity were represented. She said she wanted to see some follow-through on a new plan.

At a meeting last month, more than 200 community members voiced opposition to the Revenue Authority’s original proposal. Many also said the agency’s series of traffic, lighting and environmental studies led to more questions than answers.

‘‘We’re not interested in the existing project, and neither were the 200 people who showed up at that meeting,” said Adam Pagnucco, chairman of Crossing Georgia, a subcommittee of the Forest Estates Community Association.

The Revenue Authority was charged with making Sligo Creek Golf Course financially viable after taking control of it in 2006 from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The original proposal estimated a gross profit of about $1.3 million in its first year and $1.5 million by year two, according to a study by Timonium-based financial firm Kennady Consulting.

‘‘We’re still optimistic that by working with the community we’ll figure something out there,” Miller said. ‘‘Maybe there are new ideas, different things, that can be done.”