Dead grass and trees are becoming commonplace at the closed golf course. (Staff photo)
The developer that owns the closed Cherry Hills Golf Course has not submitted any plans to the City of Menifee, but its ongoing discussion of proposed designs for as many as 1,300 homes on the property continues to anger residents.
Ambient Communities, which purchased the property from Korean-based California Golf and Art LLC in January 2024, has not announced any specifics on its website about what it calls the Cherry Hills Project. However, in community meetings held over the last year, Ambient representative Wade Hall has shown residents designs “as an option” that depict rows of homes on top of what used to be lush green fairways.
In these meetings with angry Sun City residents, Hall admits that any such development faces many hurdles – including a required zoning change, issues with a flood control plain, and the approval of two-thirds of local residents. Even so, Ambient’s silence on any official plans has residents wondering what’s really up with this project.
“Why would an intelligent investor purchase property with all those restrictions?” local resident Carmen Acosta asked during the public comments section of the April 22 Planning Commission meeting. “Are there some things they know about that they could bypass? Why would they do this unless they have some backup plan?”
Residents have attended the last few Planning Commission and City Council meetings to voice their concern over what they perceive as a threat to their quiet community. As Planning Commission Chair Ivan Holler explained at the April 22 meeting, commissioners cannot comment on a situation for which no plans have been submitted.
Complicating the issue is the fact that Ambient has not responded to the media to give any clarity on the issue. And as far as the City of Menifee is concerned, any restrictions in the Sun City Civic Association bylaws concerning development of the property would strictly be a legal issue between the SCCA and Ambient if plans are actually submitted.
“A homeowners association’s Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) are an agreement between two private entities and would not be regulated by the City,” said Phil Southard, communications director for the City of Menifee. “As the property owners, Ambient Communities has the right to submit an application to the City for consideration and evaluation.
“Any proposed housing project on the property would require a zoning change and a general plan amendment (GPA) with many studies in accordance with the appropriate environmental assessment through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). During these processes, there would also be ample opportunities for the public to voice their input and feedback on the proposed project.
“Ultimately, changes in zoning to the open space designation and the GPA would need to be reviewed/approved by the Planning Commission and the City Council. To date, no application has been submitted.”
The bottom line: This situation will likely continue for months or years. Meanwhile, the former golf course property sits vacant, with dead grass and trees that are overgrown and falling down in some places. The Ambient website lists dates it says the property was watered and otherwise maintained in the interim, but images of the property and statements from residents suggest otherwise.
“I think the CC&Rs are tough enough that they’re barking up the wrong tree,” said Sun City resident and real estate agent Mark Wade. “Meanwhile, it’s a fire hazard. There’s no water on the course and trees are falling down.”
“This would be a strain on our roads, our sewer system, and electricity,” said Tony Reverditto, who is among many residents who paid extra for homes that back up to the golf course. “Besides that, such a project would invade our privacy, our little sanctuary we have here. It would require an Environmental Impact Report for sure. This property supports geese, egrets, cranes … this conflicts with the historical preservation of this area.
“The legally binding documents are very clear. It would take two-thirds of the voters for any amendment.”
Resident Doug Mills said he believes City officials should respond now to residents’ complaints and not wait.
“First and foremost, it’s the responsibility of any city to respond to its citizens,” Mills said. “I have no problem with growth, but thousands of housing units here is insane.”
At the April 22 meeting, City Attorney Thai Phan explained the City’s position to residents.
“Because this issue is not on the agenda, California law states that the commission can’t make a determination on this before there is a submitted application,” she said. “That would be a violation of the applicant’s due process.”
While the Ambient website states in one section that “Ambient has initiated a series of community meetings for residents and stakeholders to provide suggestions on amenities and land uses,” it states elsewhere that no upcoming meetings are scheduled.
Stay tuned.
