- July 26, 2024
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The River Bend Golf Course has been closed since December 2020. File photo by Jarleene Almenas
The three areas identified by GAI Consultants in the study. Courtesy of the city of Ormond Beach
A recreational use was identified for Area 1. Courtesy of the city of Ormond Beach
Office or retail space could make up the southern portion of Area 3. Courtesy of the city of Ormond Beach
Area 3 was identified for aeronautical uses. Courtesy of the city of Ormond Beach
A park. Commercial and office space. More hangars?
These are some of the types of uses that the Riverbend Golf Course property could become in the future. On Tuesday, May 14, the City Commission discussed the former golf course property during a workshop. The golf course, which opened in 1991, spans approximately 172 acres. It was operated by a private lessee until December 2020 when its last operator, Riverbend Management Group, filed for bankruptcy.
The property has remained shuttered since, with some residents in the community asking the city to reopen the golf course — whether by leasing the property once again, or by taking over operations.
However, in response to the city's inquiry regarding the golf course use in January 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration responded that, as the city was considering a runway extension to include lands used by the course, it seemed "counter intuitive" for the city to reassign the golf course lease, according to a letter to Airport Manager Steve Lichliter. The FAA also
discouraged a golf course use on the runway protection zone, and informed the city that "much analysis and coordination would be required to demonstrate this continued land use would be acceptable."
"They also were concerned that a new lease for something like golf would encumber the city's rights and powers to use the land for aeronautical purposes, particularly that area adjacent to the airport field," Economic Development Director Brian Rademacher said during the workshop.
FAA regulations require airport property be used for aviation purposes, but according to the city, non-aeronautical uses may be allowed if approved by the federal agency.
Andrew McCown, of GAI Consultants, told the City Commission that a 16-acre portion south east of the airport, adjacent to Airport Road and refferreed to as Area 1, would be suited for a park, with trails, boardwalks and open areas.
A 67-acre portion of the golf course, referred to as Area 3, would be largely impacted by the runway protection zone, but McCown said an office or retail area could fit in the southern portion. The northern part, identified to have a significant number of wetlands, could become an extension of the Ormond Beach Sports Complex or another recreation area.
"At the end of the day, just with the amount of potential constraints from the airport, as well as the constraints of the wetlands in the floodplain on that site, we were hesitant to move forward with a real concept for that," McCown said.
He added that Area 3 could become additional airport facilities in the long term future.
A portion of the golf course property, located between Areas 1 and 3, has been identified for aeronautical and some non-aeronautical uses. This is because, McCown said, it's not constrained by wetlands, and it's located in the center of the active part of the airport with direct access to the runways, taxiways and existing hangars.
Rademacher said the full study of the proposed uses for the property will be brought before the commission for approval soon, likely at its June 4 meeting.
