OPRD---Public Comments on State Park Lands Desired for Gold Course

11/5/2013

Bandon Biota Changes Boundary of State Park Lands Desired for Golf Course

The proposed exchange between Bandon Biota and the Parks Department is still ongoing, with detailed negotiations taking place between the two parties. However, there is a recent important change. Bandon Biota still hopes to acquire 280 acres of Bandon State Natural Area (BSNA) so that the Bandon Dunes golf resort can build a sixth golf course. According to a May 2013 Golf Travel Insider article, Michael Keiser, owner of Bandon Dunes, owns sufficient land in the area to build a "pretty good" golf course, but the additional BSNA land would make it "superlative." Now, however, Keiser has requested some different, new acreage: a long chimney of land further north in BSNA. This northern oblong is all adjacent to Keiser ownership. The western edge of the proposed BSNA exchange lands would be drawn further east to compensate.

This long strip of BSNA land Keiser now wants is rare and valuable habitat, containing many wetlands and undisturbed natural plant communities, as can be seen on the map. It is troubling that Bandon Biota would request a major change so late in the negotiations in the lands they hope to acquire. Furthermore, these new lands the public would lose are very important and rare dunal wetland systems, largely unspoiled by gorse or other invasives. Oregon Coast Alliance opposes this exchange for many reasons, including major loss of farmland in Coos and Grant Counties. A key consideration is the importance of coastal State Parks to Oregonians, and the high value of uncommon dune and wetland habitats. The new acreage proposed for exchange makes this proposal worse, as Oregonians would lose even more rare coastal habitat than before.

There is still plenty of time for Oregonians to state their concerns with this project.The Parks Department is accepting public comment on the Biota exchange proposal until the Parks Commission meeting November 20th.
Please send comments to: [email protected]

Here are my comments to the ODPR

To Whom It Concerns:

The following is comment on the proposed Bandon Biota request for boundary changes of State Park Lands that they desire for a new golf course.

Please allow the proposed changes, because anytime property is in the hands of private industry that property will produce revenue that will rebound in the community to stimulate the economy. The ideal situation would be for the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation to sell this property on the open market to the highest bidder. Then the owner of The Dunes Golf Course, Michael Keiser would have the chance to buy it and put the property back on the tax roll to benefit everyone.

The system of trying to piecemeal together properties to switch and trade in these high-stakes land deals gives the perception of impropriety. Trading gorse for the Grouse Ranch is no deal for the people around the ranch and there is no evidence that they support the deal, so why should we screw them.

Mr. Keiser has a proven record of creating jobs, employing family providers, thus feeding the people of Coos County and he should be celebrated for all that his industry has brought to the southern coast of Oregon. All the ODPR has done is use tax dollars to take more property out of circulation in the real-estate market and to the detriment of the people.

Sincerely,
Rob Taylor
PO Box 973
935 Division Street
Bandon OR, 97411
[email protected]

Please send comments to: [email protected]

Comments