Tamarac Invites Public Comment on Colony West Golf Course Purchase

On Monday, September 26th, information will be presented regarding the Colony West proposal to the City Commission for its discussion and then on Wednesday, September 28th, it will be brought up for public comment. Monday’s meeting starts at 9:30a.m. and Wednesday’s meeting starts at 9:00 a.m.

According to Andy Berns, economic affairs officer, “The point of purchasing Colony West, 6800 W. Pine Island Road, would be to preserve open space.”

The city is considering purchasing 262 acres.

According to Commissioner Harry Dressler, “The City is interested in buying land, not golf course businesses. We are interested in buying land because the City wants to control the open space for environmental and other reasons.”

Dressler adds, “While controlling land is our primary purpose, the possibility of our leasing the land to a golf management company, as long as the City does not have to make large continued capital investments in course upkeep, is a strategy that makes sense.”

According the the Sun-Sentinel, Former Mayor Joe Schreiber asked commissioners why they were thinking about spending $3 million to protect Colony West from developers when they already have the right to vote against any future development.

“The city does not intend to be in the golf course business, ” said Dressler, “Our strategy would be, if feasible, to be an owner and landlord of land. As such the City would be the steward of the land and in control of it’s future at ideally no profit or loss to the taxpayers. This is the environmental driver of the City’s long term strategic plan.”

Are you working and cannot make the meetings? Then contact your representative below for more information.

Mayor Bushnell Pamela.Bushnell@tamarac.org

Vice Mayor Gomez Michelle.Gomez@tamarac.org

Commissioner Swenson Marion.Swenson@tamarac.org

Commissioner Glasser Diane.Glasser@tamarac.org

Commissioner Dressler Harry.Dressler@tamarac.org

City Manager michaelc@tamarac.org