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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Emergency fishing closures kick in Saturday ... Police mum on circumstances behind killing of prowler ... Cluster of tiny earthquakes shakes terrain near Lakeview ... Emergency fishing closures kick in Saturday ... Police mum on circumstances behind killing of prowler ... Cluster of tiny earthquakes shakes terrain near Lakeview ... OREGON COAST Port Orford golf course proposal clears legal hurdle Comment By John Gunther The Coos Bay World MailTribune.com By John Gunther The Coos Bay World Posted Jul. 11, 2015 at 10:09 AM By John Gunther The Coos Bay World Posted Jul. 11, 2015 at 10:09 AM » Social News PORT ORFORD — The proposed Pacific Gales golf course project near Port Orford is becoming tantalizingly close to reality for the developers. The group Elk River Property Development, LLC, recently got two pieces of good news. First the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals sided with Curry County on all of the golf course related portions of an Oregon Coast Alliance appeal to the county's approval of the project. Though LUBA agreed with ORCA on an issue related to the size of the clubhouse, remanding the decision back to the county, that's the only legal issue still in the way of full approval for the project. “The good news is they really can't appeal the golf course anymore,” said Jim Haley, one of the chief developers. “The only thing they can press us on is the clubhouse. We now have an architect, an attorney and a land planner working on that. “The sad part is we keep spending money on land planners and attorneys and we're not spending any money in the community.” Meanwhile, the rest of the LUBA decision cleared the way for the developers to start seeking investors for the project, expected to cost somewhere between $10 and $15 million. And the initial response for that through the Pacific Gales Founders Club has been encouraging. “I've just been amazed at the excitement of other folks here in Oregon, and specifically in Portland,” said Dave Esler, the course architect, who spent several days in Portland last week talking to potential investors. “I'm flattered by the interest and willingness to help us find other friends,” Esler said. “It's certainly the most excited and positive I've been in 15 years. Because the golf course is within three miles of the Port Orford urban growth boundary, the clubhouse must have a capacity of under 100 people, according to state land-use rules. Developers didn't have a specific clubhouse design when they brought their conditional use application to Curry County, only a rough description of a two-story, 10,000-square-foot building including a restaurant, lounge, pro shop, locker rooms and administrative offices. The clubhouse issue was one part of ORCA's appeal. LUBA ruled against ORCA on portions of the appeal relating to the overall acreage that will be used for the golf course and the county's interpretation of rules related to coastal shorelands and development within geological hazard areas. ORCA did not appeal the LUBA decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals, but said on its website that it plans to continue participating in the remand process when the developers bring the issue back to the county. Before any shaping can take place on the course, developers also must complete a wetlands delineation and an archaeological study for the site, on a portion of the Knapp Ranch north of Port Orford being leased by Elk River Property Development. But Haley and Esler, who have been in the planning stages for the golf course for more than a decade, are optimistic they will be building the golf course in the not-too-distant future. “We have one foot out of the woods,” Esler said. “There's nothing left now but the mechanics of going back to the county for the remand.” By John Gunther The Coos Bay World MailTribune.com By John Gunther The Coos Bay World Posted Jul. 11, 2015 at 10:09 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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