Last updated September 22, 2008
Proposed New Development
at Sligo Golf Course
The Montgomery County Revenue Authority—which leases and operates the County Airpark, golf courses, and other self-supporting facilities for public use—is proposing major changes to Sligo Golf Course in order to increase revenue substantially. The original plan—to add a lighted 70-stall driving range and one or two miniature golf courses—received overwhelming community opposition. Read the background.
The Revenue Authority removed its request for $5.5-million for the driving range and only asked the Council to approve $100,000 for additional study of the project, if needed.
The Planning Board and the Revenue Authority
On April 3, 2008, the Montgomery County Revenue Authority gave its required annual report to the Montgomery County Planning Board. At this meeting, the Board of Directors of Friends of Sligo Creek provided testimony. The Planning Board discussed the Sligo Golf Course situation, including provisions of the lease. Read the transcription.Sligo Creek Stakeholders Advisory Group
The Revenue Authority decided to convene a "stakeholders group" of civic association representation, golfers, and others to create alternatives to the original plan. For a list of members of the Stakeholders, which included the Friends of Sligo Creek, see below. The group met every other Tuesday evening from April 22nd through August 12th, 2008.The final report of the Stakeholders, including its recommendations, was made by Stakeholders' chair, Bruce Sidwell (yes, also president of the board of Friends of Sligo Creek) to the Revenue Authority Board at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008. Several individuals and groups submitted written addenda: Bruce Sidwell submitted detail on Environmental Implications of Adding a Driving Range to the Sligo Creek Golf Course, and the representatives of civic associations offered their own report.
In addition, please review the Google map which presents the six community/civic association that have officially documented their opposition of installing a driving range and mini-golf courses at SCGC.
| MEMBERS | ||
| Residents/associations | ||
| North Hills of Sligo Creek Civic Association | Michael Welsh | member |
| alternate: Lou Welanetz | ||
| Forest Estates Community Association | Adam Pagnucci | member |
| Woodside Forest Civic Association | Karen Howland | member |
| Northwood - Four Corners Civic Association | Carole Ann Barth | member |
| Local Resident At-Large | Heather Phipps | member |
| Golf & Youth | ||
| Sligo Creek Golfer | Joe Liberta | member |
| Sligo Creek Golfer | Byrne Peake | member |
| The First Tee of Montgomery | Laura Sildon | member |
| Environmental advocacy | ||
| Friends of Sligo Creek | Bruce Sidwell | member |
| alternate: Laura Mol | ||
| Montgomery County Advisory Boards | ||
| Silver Spring Recreation Advisory Board | now vacant | member |
| Countywide Recreation Advisory Board | Donna Bartko | member |
| Montgomery County staff | ||
| M-NCPPC Parks; Chief, Enterprise Division | Christine Brett | member |
| alternate: Doug Redmond | ||
| Mo Co Public Schools, Director of Athletics | Duke Beattie | member |
| STAFF | ||
| Montgomery County Revenue Authority | ||
| Executive Director | Keith Miller | staff |
| Staff | Tara Letitia Jacob | recorder |
| OBSERVERS, regular/frequent | ||
| MCRA Director of Golf Operations | Wayne Rohauer | observer |
| MCRA Chief Financial Officer | Michael Boone | observer |
| Office of Councilmember V Ervin | Amparo Macias | observer |
| Chief of Staff for Councilmember M Elrich | Dale Tibbits | observer |
| Residents from North Hills neighborhood | Donna & Don Collins | observers |