Former Mayor says NO to Golf Course Sale

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 10:38 PM

Former Prince George Mayor Harold Moffat says he wouldn’t sell the Prince George Golf and Country Club property for $150 million dollars much less the $15 million that has been offered. Moffat was one of the originators of the golf club. He says he talked former MLA Ray Williston into selling the property to the club for $10 dollars an acre to get the facility under way. He added, if the Golf Club takes the offer they at least should pay back taxes given the fact they haven’t paid taxes on the major portion of the facility since its beginning. As the for the idea of moving the club to another location, Moffat says do you think because they move locations they are not going to be hit by beetles? Of course they will.

Opinion 250 News has learned the proposal for the land would see the section lying along highway 16 become commercial. Plans call for a possible major hotel and other commercial development. The balance of the property would be developed into high density and residential lots. The Ex Mayor asks, “Why in the world would you destroy this golf club which is only one of a handful in Canada that is located along a major route in a city?" Mr. Moffat also poses this question; “What would you like, commercial buildings and paved parking lots running the total length of highway 16 in this city? Is that what we really want?"

Moffat says there is plenty of undeveloped property in Prince George that can be used for commercial purposes rather than destroying the last green strip along Highway 16.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 10:38 PM in News by Ben Meisner

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: Chadermando on May 26 2005 1:06 PM

I think Mr. Moffat has a point.

IMO the golf course should stay, but I think the frontage to highway 16 should be developed for commercial use.

I also don't like the idea of the city having subsidized the potential profits PG Golf would get from this deal. If the deal goes through then PG Golf should face back taxes by the city to cover the past subsidization.

PG tax-payers can not afford to subsidize this organization for profit. It would not be fair to the other private golf course operators in the city. PG Golf was not set up to be land speculators and should not be allowed to engage in that for profit at the cities expense.

Posted by: spanky on May 26 2005 3:10 PM

Can you say downtown Moffat opposed to any development outside of the downtown core? Sounds like an old familiar beat to me. Keep on marching Harold, soon enough you will be in Giscome and we won't have to listen anymore. Anyhow, enough picking on Harry. The back tax issue is a good one however.The golf and curling club has never been run as a profitable business and now they want to sell the land at a tidy profit to bail themselves out of financial ruin. The city of prince george needs to quit subsidizing the golf course to aid its illustrious membership.

Posted by: rock on May 27 2005 7:39 AM

Wakey wakey Moffat,it's now time to join the rest of us in the 21st century,it's now time to take this non revenue generating peice of dirt and develop it...ie put something on it that will generate tax revenue,I do agree with old Moffat on the part about the back taxes but as far as his quote about destroying the last green strip along highway 16 I may suggest that he has been hanging out in the glue section of his hardware store just a little too long

Posted by: Toby on May 27 2005 5:49 PM

We are already losing most of the trees in the bowl area due to the beetles. Now the movers and shakers want to do away with both golf courses and "develop" the area. My question is, what do they think is going to happen with the air quality once all that green space is gone?