The proposal for the Swan Lakes golf course moved one step closer to reality Tuesday night when the Layton City Planning Commission approved a conditional use and site plan for the nine-hole facility.
The complex, which will include batting cages, putting greens and a driving range, will be on the southeast corner of 2200 West and 1000 North on the former Ellison Farm.The commission granted approval contingent on installation of a 6-foot fence around the course, berming and several other improvements subject to staff input.
The City Council rezoned the 44 acres from agricultural to manufacturing earlier this month to allow for the golf course development.
The Planning Commission tabled approval of the golf course at its previous meeting, pending concerns about the location of the batting cages and noise and spotlights that could annoy nearby residents.
However, the golf course developers maintained that although they plan to have the seven-station batting cages in use until 10:30 nightly, rubber balls will be used to reduce noise and less light would be produced from the cages' spotlights than with a parking lot. They also argued they could not relocate the batting cages because that would mean the clubhouse could not be in a central location. The Commission finally agreed and accepted the batting cages at the proposed location.
Several Layton residents living near the proposed course expressed concern over water runoff in the area, but developers will be responsible for a storm drain along 2200 West. The lakes in the golf course will recirculate their water, and the grass on the course will also lessen runoff, according to developers.
Scott Starkey is the developer named in city permits, but otherwise many details about the proposed golf course have not yet been made public. When asked to comment on the course after the meeting, Starkey referred the Deseret News to another colleague who then declined to comment.
The golf course plans are believed to include four par-4 and five par-3 holes, as well as an 18-hole putting course.
The course will also be south of farm property Layton City hopes to purchase to develop for a new west Layton park, fire station and retention pond. An extension of Hill Field Road (Industrial Park Drive) to 2200 West would probably divide the two recreational developments.
Golf course developers will be required to install curb and gutter along their property on 2200 West, but they hope to receive a lien waiver to postpone sidewalk installation along 1000 West.
An LDS chapel and the Suntrails subdivision are also near Swan Lakes, which will be west of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad tracks and the city's industrial park.