Letters concerning the Sligo Golf Course Additions

Letter from Bruce Sidwell, President of Friends of Sligo Creek to the Montgomery County Executive and Council, July 18, 2007

Dear County Executive and Council members,

On behalf of the Board and members of the Friends of Sligo Creek, I wish to express our thoughts about possible modifications to the golf course in Sligo Creek Park that are currently being discussed. Our volunteer group is dedicated to preserving or improving the natural aspects of Sligo Creek Park and its watershed. As such we are very concerned about features of the plan developed by the Revenue Authority that seem very likely to degrade water quality and the beauty and natural benefits of the park.

For nearly sixty years, the 71 acre golf course has not only provided recreation to residents but also a host of natural amenities that are critical to the watershed. If plans for squeezing in two miniature golf courses and a driving range are carried out, the area will lose many large trees, open space, and habitat. Replacing plants and soil with pavement and other impervious surfaces will increase run-off from storms. Traffic will increase in an already busy part of the park. Especially disruptive will be the extension of hours past dusk. The added traffic, bright lights, and noise well into the night will not only disturb local residents, but will also drive off birds and other wildlife. The light towers and nets of the driving range, like huge billboards, will reduce the natural beauty of the park. Finally, it seems unavoidable that planned changes will increase pollution of the watershed from sediment, trash, chemicals, and increased run-off of water.

As citizens who are intimately familiar with the ecology of the area, we believe that the proposed changes are incompatible with the basic purpose of Sligo Park. Green space and quiet natural beauty are rare in the down-county area. Turning the current golf course into a high impact, high volume amusement park feels like poor stewardship of the considerable investment of funds and labor that the County and its residents have made over many years.

We look forward to working with you and your staff on this issue. I invite you to look over our website (www.fosc.org) for more information about our organization.

Sincerely,

Bruce A. Sidwell
President, Friends of Sligo Creek

Reply from Montgomery County Council, July 24, 2007

Dear Mr. Sidwell:

Thank you for contacting the Council concerning the proposed plan for revitalizing Sligo Creek Golf Course. Your e-mail was made available to all Councilmembers at the time it was received.

As part of the lease agreement with Park and Planning, the Revenue Authority presented a Master Plan for all County golf facilities to the Planning Board on March 15 and the Council's Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee was also briefed on the Master Plan on June 11. The proposed revitalization of Sligo Creek Golf Course is part of the Master Plan; however, these proposals are in the early stages of planning. The Executive Director, Keith Miller, of the Revenue Authority has met with several local civic associations and intends to solicit additional community input. The Planning Board also requested the Revenue Authority return to discuss further details regarding the Sligo Creek Golf Course revitalization. If you have additional comments or would like to attend any meetings in the future, please contact Tara Jacob at the Revenue Authority Office at (301) 762-9080 or tjacob@montgomercountyrevenueauthority-md.gov. You may also write to the Revenue Authority at 101 Monroe Street, Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20850.

While the County Council does not have a role in the approval of the Master Plan, any change in Sligo Creek that requires funding may require Council approval via the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and Capital Budget. We will carefully consider your concerns if funding is requested.

I appreciate your taking the time to write and share your views on this issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me about other issues of concern to you in the future.

Sincerely,

Marilyn J. Praisner
Council President