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Video Girdwood
2020 |
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Video Girdwood
2020
P.O. Box 1102
Girdwood, AK
99587
Fax: 907-346-3293
info@girdwood2020.org
Golf
Course FAQ: Click
here
"Letter to Mayor Begich"
By Michael J. Hurdzan, Ph.D. - ASGCA
Click
here to
download (PDF format).
NOTE: 
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Reader to
view. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can
download a FREE copy here.
Golf course may be back on track following
litigation
Five years ago, when the Girdwood Area Plan was
adopted by the Anchorage Assembly, the municipality
embarked on one of the most controversial "first
steps" identified in the plan &endash; a resort
golf course and nordic ski course for Girdwood
Valley. After sending out two requests for
proposals spanning three years, the municipality
selected Glacier Valley Development Corp. (GVDC), a
team of international golf resort developers headed
by local Girdwood resident Tom Yeager. The team
includes Michael Hurdzan, an internationally
recognized golf architect who uses environmental
amenities in his golf designs. Although the lease
between the city and GVDC was approved in August
1998, it was the subject of litigation brought by
several environmental organizations. Motions for
summary judgment were filed and after a series of
rulings, the court agreed with the plaintiffs that
the city provide more specific information about
the lands leased and the valuation of those lands.
Rather than appeal these rulings, the municipality
contracted with an Anchorage planner, Chris Beck
and Associates, to conduct a site- specific land
use study of the overall 750- acre "project area"
established in the golf course lease. The study
will more clearly identify the land proposed for
development and will address seven specific issues,
especially environmental constraints and historical
sites, as required by municipal ordinances. Chris
will work with GVDC and the local community to
identify the specific 380- 400 acres that will be
included in the lease, and he is expected to finish
this summer. After that, the municipality will
conduct an appraisal of the property, followed by
renegotiation of the lease agreement with GVDC. It
is anticipated that the proposed lease will be back
before the Assembly for approval this fall.
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