Opponents will appeal driving range

A shining example of urban limits could be compromised if leaders allow a golf course driving range north of Turlock, frustrated farmers say.

For more than two decades, Stanislaus County leaders have boasted about their formal greenbelt protecting farmland between Turlock and Keyes. Such buffers are essential to curb sprawl, say smart-growth experts.

Unincorporated Keyes, keen to preserve its identity, and farmers between the town and Turlock have been spared anxiety for at least 22 years because of the no-build agreement.

But most leaders involved in the initial deal have died, left office or changed jobs. And driving range applicants found that the agreement isn't as iron-clad as many people thought.

Fred and Shameron Adams want to replace their 39-acre almond orchard across Taylor Road from an am-pm minimarket with 30-foot netting, 20-foot lights, a 53-space parking lot, the driving range, and chipping and putting greens.

County planning staff suggested that county planning commissioners reject the proposal. But planning commissioners in March voted 5-1 for the driving range.

Neighbors in the Barnhart Road area between Turlock and Keyes signed a protest petition. Teri Nascimento, whose husband and son have lived and farmed there their entire lives, appealed the decision.

"We love farming here and we love our way of life," said Phil Mouzes, whose grandparents homesteaded on Barnhart Road upon moving from Nebraska in 1948.

If a driving range is allowed, other development won't be far behind, several neighbors predicted.

"It's their foot in the door," said Wendy Pereira. "Development can work its way down real easy. They just do it piece by piece."

Turlock planners Tuesday briefed City Council members on the appeal. Jeani Ferrari of Turlock-based Farmland Working Group told the council that the buffer has been put on a pedestal at smart growth conferences she attended.

"Piecemeal urbanization is a threat to the viability of farming in this buffer and raises the expectations of landowners for further development," Ferrari said.

The council unanimously empowered Mayor John Lazar to lobby county Supervisor Vito Chiesa, whose district includes Turlock and Keyes.

"I think the county should honor their commitments to us. I want to make sure we don't have any more misunderstandings," said Lazar, the only remaining member of the council that in 1994 approved a rewrite of the buffer agreement, developed in 1987.

Chiesa, who took office in December, on Thursday said he has met with several concerned groups.

"I'm new at this," Chiesa said. "I have no idea which way I'm going to go. I'm just trying to get good information to make an informed decision."

The appeal initially was scheduled for Tuesday, but a public notice glitch forced postponement until May 19.

Controlling growth?

Some see the appeal as a case study on the erosion of farmland protection. Similar concerns have prompted a variety of controlled-growth action over the years, including measures in Modesto and throughout Stanislaus County giving increased power over land-use decisions to voters instead of elected officials.

However, a majority of Patterson planning commissioners a month ago recommended stripping farmland preservation requirements from a proposed industrial park. Farmland mitigation sparked controversy in Riverbank's recent general plan update. And a committee of Modesto leaders Thursday started the ball rolling for a 480-acre annexation that would erase the rural area between that city and Riverbank.

County leaders in December 2007 revised their agricultural element, allowing people who want to build in greenbelts to propose alternative buffers.

An orchard on one side of the driving range and the range's open space would accomplish the same goal as a 300-foot setback, applicants said.

They also contend that the land "may reasonably be returned to agricultural use in the future."

Some members of the Keyes Municipal Advisory Committee, which provides advice to county supervisors, aren't happy with the driving range idea.

"I thought (the greenbelt) was a permanent deal," said committee member Davie Landers.

Committee member William Alexander said, "Turlock is not supposed to go beyond Taylor Road. "If they do, they're going to have a fight on their hands."

The driving range appeal is scheduled to go before Stanislaus County supervisors at a meeting starting 6:30 p.m. on May 19 in the basement chamber of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St., Modesto.

Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or 578-2390.