Vista Hills County Club closing: City Reps hold community meeting to address concerns

UPDATE:

Hundreds of residents attended a special meeting over the planned closure of an east side country club. Where plenty of East Side residents are very concerned about the closing down of Vista Hills Country Club and what it means not only for their property values, but for their community as well. District representatives and even the City Manager was at the meeting, sending out the message that they care, and they want to find a solution.

District 7 Representative Henry Rivera said, “I’ve seen this iconic golf course at its peak, and now at its very lowest and so I understand what they’re going through.”

Rivera told ABC 7’s Christina Aguayo that the City decided to hold the meeting Monday night to address the concerns of the community. Hundreds packed inside the Pebble Hills Regional Command Center.

Tommy Gonzalez was first to speak to residents saying, “We wanted to provide some solutions, some potential solutions that you might consider.”

The City presented two options, A Homeowners Association Fee, and the creation of a Public Improvement District.

Jessica Herrera, Director of Economic Development said that they don’t want the property to go vacant and unused. She said, “I think the last thing you want to do is see this property proceed into what we call a blighted piece of property.”

Each of the two solutions involves a monthly fee charged to homeowners that will go towards mainainting Vista Hills Country Club. The Homeowners Association is created and controlled by the property owners and is voluntary. While the Public Improvement District is established by the City Council and has to be signed by more than 50% of homeowners. If the community choses the P.I.D., the club has to remain open to the public.

The City said that either of the two options will address the commuinity’s concerns about property values. Gonzales said, “A way of looking at the HOA or the PID the public improvement district is a protection of those values.”

But both options will take time, and the community wants to know what will happen to the Club in the meantime. One community member asking, “Will the course be watered and maintained, Will the course have security measures in place, if so who’s gonna pay for this?”

Some homeowners came up with a short term solution of a volunteer monthly fee of $100. Some already agreeing to it, “We personally contribute to it I don’t think its far fetched, I think that if everyone did it, its very obtainable for the community and the golf course.”

The City said Monday night that they have a meeting with Bill Tomberline, The Presdient of Vsta Hills Country Club tomorrow, which, they say, will be the first of many in trying to find an alternative solution to closing the club down.

ORIGINAL STORY:

A special community meeting has been scheduled by the Office of District 7 City Representative Henry Rivera.

Mr. Rivera is holding the meeting to answer any questions and address concerns about the City’s position regarding the Vista Hills Country Club’s plan to close.

The office of Rep. Rivera is inviting the community to the meeting, and anyone who is concerned about Vista Hills.

The meeting will be held at the Pebble Hills Regional Command Center at 10780 Pebble Hills Blvd. Suite A. It will start at 6:00 p.m. and scheduled to run through 8:00 p.m.

ABC 7’s Christina Aguayo will be at the meeting, and update you tonight on ABC 7 at 10:00.