MORGAN HILL
– A decision to grant another permit for a golf course in the
foothills east of Morgan Hill will be made by one man before he
retires at the end of the month.
MORGAN HILL – A decision to grant another permit for a golf course in the foothills east of Morgan Hill will be made by one man before he retires at the end of the month.
Community Development Director David Bischoff will retire April 30, but before he hangs up his blue pencil he must decide whether or not to grant The American Institute of Mathematics’ request for another temporary use permit.
His staff has recommended approval of the permit as the best way to limit adverse effects on plant and animal life in the area. Staff did not recommend that limited play be allowed, which officials from The Institute had asked for.
As of Thursday afternoon Bischoff hadn’t made up his mind. In comments Tuesday, he was leaning toward issuing the permit, but banning play. He expects to make a decision by next week at the latest.
A permit including limited play was granted last year, but it expired in September. The permit to maintain the course expired March 31, prompting the current request that would allow limited maintenance of the course on Foothill Avenue until an Environmental Impact Report is complete.
The city and The Institute, owned by John Fry of Fry’s Electronics, have been wrangling for years over renovation on the golf course that took place without permits. The private course will not be open to public play; instead it will be a recreational part of the campus after it moves from Palo Alto to its new headquarters on Foothill.
The environmental impact report is scheduled to go to the planning commission on May 9, and to the City Council on June 2, longer than originally planned, Bischoff said.
