FUTURE OF WAKEFIELD VALLEY GOLF COURSE
Agreement reached with the City of Westminster
Westminster, MD – “It’s a win-win situation for the City of Westminster,” pronounced Mayor Kevin Utz as he described an Agreement reached between the City and Mr. Richard Kress, the new owner of the Wakefield Valley Golf Course property.
The Agreement includes a donation to the City of Westminster of 160 acres of the Wakefield Valley Golf Course property, including the clubhouse, banquet facility, outbuildings and the historic Durbin House. “This is the largest parcel of open green space remaining in the City of Westminster, and we are delighted that we will be able to preserve it and plan its future,” stated Mayor Utz.
In addition to the property, the City assumes ownership of an on-site well, currently permitted by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to withdraw 85,000 gallons per day (gpd) for golf course irrigation purposes only. With the golf course closure, MDE will be requested to transfer this 85,000 gpd to the City for its general use.
Mr. Kress is also the owner and developer of the Stonegate residential subdivision to be built on the former Naganna property located on the east side of the City. In exchange for the donation of the property and well, Mr. Kress will retain a water allocation necessary to move forward with the Stonegate project which has been delayed since 2002 by an MDE Consent Order limiting new water allocations and an economy in recession. The remaining water allocation will be available for the City of Westminster water system.
“This transfer will take several months, and we’ll start a lengthy planning process to ensure the best use of this beautiful land,” explained Mayor Utz. “We will solicit public input along the way and welcome the thoughts and suggestions of the community.”