In response to the city
’s demand, the John Fry’s Math Institute Golf Course opened its
gates Wednesday for an inspection by city officials.
In response to the city’s demand, the John Fry’s Math Institute Golf Course opened its gates Wednesday for an inspection by city officials.
As a part of a cease and desist order, the city demanded that the course be opened up for inspection.
David Bischoff, community development director for the city, said they found the golf course renovation was much larger than the permit allowed. The city officials also looked at some buildings where work has occurred but not inspected.
“We had concerns about some outstanding permits. We talked about that with them,” said Bischoff. “We will be working with them on the issue.”
Last week, the golf course filed a Temporary Use Permit that would allow continued routine maintenance and 16 rounds of golf, on a dozen conditions, according to Bischoff. He says that the permit has not gone into effect.
“We have indicated that we would issue a Temporary Use Permit for continued limited play and landscaping,” said Bischoff. “The (Institute) has asked for clarifications on some of the conditions that mostly came from the Water District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.”
Bischoff says that the permit cannot go into affect until the clarifications are made.
The next step in for the golf course is releasing a new Draft Environmental Impact Report late next month.
“Based on the comments of the (last) impact report, along with other information, we intend to incorporate that into a new draft environmental impact report which then be available to the public by the end of September,” said Bischoff.
Two environmental groups have filed official complaints with the city over the extent of the golf course renovation.
On hand from the golf course were AMI spokesman Steve Sorenson, Director of Store Development Lenard Sabatini and AMI’s environmental specialist Randy Long. From the city were Planning Manager Jim Rowe, Chief Building Inspector Larry Ford and Bischoff along with Deputy Fire Marshal Bill Ferguson from the County Fire Department
The golf course is a project of John Fry, owner of Fry’s Electronics, For the American Institute of Mathematics. The course, located off Foothill Avenue east of the city where the Hill County Golf Course and Flying Lady Restaurant once operated.
Problems emerged in 1996 when the course was expanded from 50 acres to more than 200 despite stop work orders being in place.
