SEDRO-WOOLLEY — Last week’s repeal of a years-long sewer moratorium was welcomed by developers. But for Sedro-Woolley golfers, it could mean losing their home greens.

Sauk Mountain Golf Course, which is run and maintained by the city of Sedro-Woolley, sits on 50 acres of residential property on Fruitdale Road.

Bob Ruby’s company, Granite Holdings LLC, owns the land and has leased it to the city since 2006 for $1 a year. Ruby bought the property in 2005 and has waited since then to develop it.

“From the beginning it was made clear to the city that this arrangement would end when the moratorium was lifted,” stated a memo from City Supervisor and Attorney Eron Berg to the City Council.

The City Council will consider Wednesday authorizing the Parks and Recreation Department to operate the golf course for one additional year. Ruby estimates it will take that long to get the needed approvals to build a residential development.

Under current zoning, Ruby said he could cover the property with 70 houses. But development does not have to mean the course disappears, he stressed Monday.

The Mount Vernon developer and investor said a portion of the course or a driving range may be preserved and the homes situated around it.

Ruby said details are still up in the air. But cities sometimes allow developers to build at an increased density — by decreasing lot sizes or allowing apartments, duplexes or condos rather than single-family homes — if the developer agrees to preserve open space.

In 2006, councilmen Ted Meamber and Tony Splane — both still on the council — opposed the initial $1-a-year lease with Ruby. The councilmen said they were concerned a golf course was not the best use of city money.

The city has not quite broken even on the course, Berg said. And it is unclear whether the council foresees the city as a long-term golf-course operator, he said.

Up to this point, Berg said council members were just voting for a short-term lease. Their views on owning a golf course may be different, he said.

“I think they would only be interested in doing it if it could essentially fund itself,” Berg said. “Whether a smaller course would be economically viable or not I think would be one of the council’s chief concerns in looking at a proposal.”
Elliott Wilson can be reached at 360-416-2147 or at ewilson @skagitvalleyherald.com.