Agenda 10/13/2020 Item #11D (Golden Gate Golf Course update)10/13/2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to accept staff's progress update for the Golden Gate Golf Course development
project and provide direction, as appropriate. (Geoff Willig, Senior Operations Analyst, County
Manager’s Office)
OBJECTIVE: To bring the Board up to date on the progress that has been made regarding the fit plans
for the redevelopment of the property, Intent to Convert process, site development agreements, and
address concerns regarding a planned State Veterans’ Nursing Home.
CONSIDERATIONS: On July 31, 2019, the County took ownership of the former Golden Gate Golf
Course property. Following the direction of the Board, the County initially maintained the property
through a partnership with the First Tee of Collier County. The County has sinc e taken on the
maintenance of the course through the Parks and Recreation Division.
In November 2019, the County selected an engineering and planning firm to lead the County through the
required Intent to Convert (“ITC”) process. The ITC will allow the County to develop the property with
other uses such as an essential services housing project, State Veterans’ Nursing Home, and a government
service center. The firm has developed a site plan that incorporates all these site uses as well as space for
12 holes of golf and a “BigShots” modern driving range facility on the former golf course property. In
accordance with obligations from the purchase and sale of the golf course, the County must provide space
for 88 parking spaces to be constructed to correct the current deficiency of the parking available for
remaining the hotel, restaurant, and condo parcels. The ITC process requires that two public information
meetings are held between November and April in order to inform and vet the redevelopment plans with
the community, before receiving authorization from the Board to redevelop the property. The current fit
plan developed by the engineering firm is attached with this executive summary.
The fit plan developed for the property includes an allocation of space on the northern portion of the
property for a potential State Veterans’ Nursing Home. At the September 8, 2020 Board meeting,
Commissioner Saunders asked for a status update on federal government financing of construction of
State Veterans’ Nursing Homes based on a future reduction in nursing home construction comment made
by a Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA) communications staff member in a meeting with
commissioners in Tallahassee last February. Staff has been unable to substantiate this comm ent. FDVA
Deputy Executive Director, Major General James Hartsell, recently reiterated their plan to visit the
proposed Collier County site once they are cleared for travel due to restrictions put in place for the
COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Collier County's federal lobbying team has been unable to produce
any evidence of a pending policy or facility model change regarding the VA State Veterans Home
Construction Grant Program that provides the 65% match.
On June 9, 2020, the Board selected Rural Neighborhoods, Inc., through an Invitation to Negotiate
(“ITN”) process, to develop an essential services housing component. Staff is currently negotiating with
Rural Neighborhoods regarding the development agreement for the Essential Services housing project.
This agreement outlines the unit mix and rental rates for the housing development. A long -term lease
through the housing trust fund will provide the land for the development at the southern portion of the
course at a reduced rate. A meeting was held on September 15, 2020 with Rural Neighborhoods, the
Community Foundation, Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, Moorings Park, and County Staff to
refine the unit mix and rental rates for the housing project.
On January 14, 2020, the Board selected ClubCorp USA, Inc., through an ITN process, to develop a golf
& entertainment component at the property. A year-long due diligence agreement was signed on April 10,
2020, to allow the County and ClubCorp to finalize a lease agreement and provide the engineering firm
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with the necessary information for the site redevelopment and ITC. Staff is currently negotiating with
ClubCorp regarding the terms of a lease to build the BigShots facility included in its proposal, and to
refurbish and operate a portion of the golf course. The anticipated agreement will also outline golf
discounts that will be available to County residents, include an access agreement with the First Tee of
Naples/Collier, and identify the rental amount to be paid to the County under the lease agreement.
On October 7, 2020, staff received a letter from ClubCorp requesting the County contribute $7 million
towards the project. This request represents a significant change from the proposal previously accepted by
the Board in that the original proposal from ClubCorp offered to redevelop the golf course and build the
“BigShots” venue at no cost or additional investment by the County. A representative of ClubCorp will
be available to discuss this request and answer the Board’s questions. The County Manager would need
Board direction to explore any additional financial support of the project. With these options the County
would maintain ownership of the land and the “BigShots” facility. ClubCorp would simply operate the
facility on the County’s behalf.
Staff is eager to bring back both the development agreement for the essential services housing project and
an agreement for the golf & entertainment project that adheres to Florida law, benefits the County, and
supports the community. Staff intends to have these agreements ready for the Board prior to the end of
the year. Additionally, staff will continue to engage the County lobbying teams in pursuit of the
development of a State Veterans’ Nursing Home, along with facilitation of an FDVA site visit as soon as
possible.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Board purchased the Golden Gate Golf Course for $29 million on July 31,
2019. The County selected the engineering firm to head the ITC and rezone required to develop the
property at a lump sum cost of $684,666.50 plus reimbursable expenditures. Should the Board wish to
entertain ClubCorp's request to contribute an additional $7 million to the project the County's fiscal
contribution to this project would be approximately $36.7 million. Staff would bring back any necessary
funding adjustments to the Board along with the Lease agreement.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: Staff is working with the engineering firm to engage in the
ITC process to address growth management impacts of this project.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, raises no legal
issues at this time, and requires majority vote for direction. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: To accept staff's progress update for the Golden Gate Golf Course
development project and provide direction as appropriate.
Prepared by: Geoff Willig, Senior Operations Analyst, County Manager’s Office
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. 2020-09-16 GGGC SITE UPDATE (PPTX)
2. ClubCorp Letter October 7 2020 (PDF)
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 11.D
Doc ID: 13853
Item Summary: Recommendation to accept staff's progress update for the Golden Gate Golf
Course development project and provide direction, as appropriate. (Geoff Willig, Senior Operations
Analyst, County Manager’s Office)
Meeting Date: 10/13/2020
Prepared by:
Title: Operations Analyst – County Manager's Office
Name: Geoffrey Willig
10/07/2020 4:18 PM
Submitted by:
Title: County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: Leo E. Ochs
10/07/2020 4:18 PM
Approved By:
Review:
County Attorney's Office Scott Teach Level 2 Attorney Review Pending
Office of Management and Budget MaryJo Brock Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Skipped 10/07/2020 4:19 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 10/07/2020 4:33 PM
County Manager's Office Leo E. Ochs Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 10/07/2020 4:35 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 10/13/2020 9:00 AM
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Land Use Summary
USE ACREAGE % AREA % OF SITE
Development Area #1
Area Remaining After ROW Taking
Developable Area
±2.0 AC
±1.6 AC
±1.6 AC 100%
1.0%
Development Area #2
Developable Area
±8.3 AC
±8.3 AC 100%
5.1%
Development Area #3
Area Remaining After ROW Taking
Existing Water Management 3A
Future Water Management 3B
Developable Area
±113.0 AC
±111.0 AC
±3.0 AC
±1.0 AC
±107.0 AC
2.7%
0.9%
96.4%
68.9%
Development Area #4
Future Water Management 4B
Developable Area
±15.1 AC
±1.2 AC
±13.9 AC
7.9%
92.1%
9.4%
Development Area #5
Area Remaining After ROW Taking
Existing Water Management 5A
Developable Area
±26.7 AC
±25.1 AC
±1.5 AC
±23.6 AC
6.0%
94.0%
15.6%
TOTAL SITE AREA BEFORE ROW TAKING
TOTAL SITE AREA AFTER ROW TAKING
TOTAL WATER MANAGEMENT AREA
±165.1 AC
±161.1 AC
±6.7 AC 4.2%
100%
11.D.1
Packet Pg. 384 Attachment: 2020-09-16 GGGC SITE UPDATE (13853 : Golf Course update)
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Packet Pg. 385 Attachment: 2020-09-16 GGGC SITE UPDATE (13853 : Golf Course update)
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Packet Pg. 386 Attachment: 2020-09-16 GGGC SITE UPDATE (13853 : Golf Course update)
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Packet Pg. 387 Attachment: 2020-09-16 GGGC SITE UPDATE (13853 : Golf Course update)
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Packet Pg. 388 Attachment: 2020-09-16 GGGC SITE UPDATE (13853 : Golf Course update)
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Packet Pg. 389 Attachment: 2020-09-16 GGGC SITE UPDATE (13853 : Golf Course update)
11.D.2
Packet Pg. 390 Attachment: ClubCorp Letter October 7 2020 (13853 : Golf Course update)