Reno Gazette Journal - January 21, 2011

Residents voice concerns about turning golf course into park

By Susan Voyles

Over the objections of some residents, the Reno City Council has approved a new property tax district for homeowners surrounding the abandoned Northgate Golf Course to help buy the land for a park.

After a public hearing this week, the City Council approved the special tax district for 131 property owners abutting the golf course.  Residents who do not pay cash would be charget an assessment over 30 years to raise $1.2 million to buy 100 acres of the park.

Other funds are being used to purchase the remaining 128 acres from the RJB Trust for $1.2 million for what will become a park with trails.  Those funds are outside of the general fund that supports city operations such as police and fire.

Homeowners' Responses

Homeowner Raymond Altemus, who faces a $14,000 assessment, said that's too much money to spend "for a dog park to walk in the weeds."

The assessments translate to annual payments that range from $230 to $1,200 annually over 30 years for homeowners.  The amounts are based on assessed property values and the size of the lots. 

Jane Robinson, who faces a $5,000 assessment, said she didn't believe the reasons were good enough to create the district. 

She said the land is being purchased for an open space park to prevent development.

"It's based on the value of what horrible thing might be there," she said.

Richard Frippat, another affected resident, said a new developer could be required to pay to put in a park.

"We do that all the time," he said.

Councilman Pierre Hascheff said the open space will benefit the residents, who all paid premiums to back up to a golf course.

"That premium you paid for your home would go up in smoke," he said.

Citizen generated

Council members Dave Aiazzi and Jessica Sferrazza said it was the homeowners who originally came to the city to seek the tax district to buy the land.

"They did it on their own.  It wasn't the city doing this," Sferrazza said.

Susann Ball Rothe, assistant city attorney, said land will remain as a park in perpetuity.

The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority abandoned the golf course in December, 2008, ripping out muchn of the irrigation equipment.  The land now is reverting to sagebrush.