Odd developments
Time was when the mention of Ocean Colony would bring to mind the conflict around Wavecrest, large housing developments, and unauthorized rip-rap (large boulders often used to armor bluffs against the ravages of the ocean) on the beach beneath the 18th hole.
Well, the times they are a’changin’. And that may have a lot to do with who started managing Ocean Colony Partners (OCP) in May.
Kenmark, a real estate firm founded by Bruce Russell and Mark Kendall, is known over the hill for projects like the Bay Meadows Project and 100 Redwood Shores Parkway. Kenmark now manages OCP, including the two golf courses, the remaining 33 houses to be built at Ocean Colony, and a one-third stake in the Wavecrest Village project.
We recently had the chance to sit down with Bruce Russell, Kenmark’s CEO, and found an avid golfer/lawyer/surfer/developer who speaks as easily about electronic control systems for buildings as he does about the benefits of less-manicured naturalistic golf courses.
When Kenmark took over operations, Russell spent nearly a month reviewing the file about the rip-rap beneath the 18th hole. In something of a departure, he consulted with the Coastal Commission staff, and soon made plans to remove rip-rap.
Kenmark’s plan, which they’re planning to show to Coastal Commission staff soon, includes removal of two large concrete slabs, relocation of the 18th hole, native plants, and a split rail fence for safety. After consultation with Council member Mike Ferreira, the proposal now includes steps down two sides of an arroyo to provide continuous Coastal Trail and beach access without the bridge that was originally planned.
Kenmark also commissioned a biologist to examine and photograph the bluffs from Pilarcitos Creek to the golf course to determine which native plants naturally occur on the blufftops, with an eye to using them for future landscaping.
This cooperation with the Commission and the city council marks a promising turn in what may be a larger trend towards cooperation.
Mayor Jim Grady observes, “In Bruce Russell, we have someone willing to work within the constraints of the Coastal Act, and in cooperation with the City and other agencies.”
As to Wavecrest, Russell notes, “We’re not making the decisions right now. There’s some redesign work being done to address the issue if the middle school’s not there. We’ve shared some of that with the council’s subcommittee.”
OCP owns one third of the Wavecrest Village project, and the managing partner responsibilities have moved to the majority owners, Concar and Pepper Lane.
The changes shown to Mayor Grady and Councilmember Ferreira include a 300 foot buffer from the limit of the habitat on the western edge (near the tall stand of trees), and a 200 foot buffer from the drainage on the south.
The proposal includes moving the project towards the highway, away from the drainage, with more green areas, and more park areas. Some of the home sites would larger, and a number of the lots might be reconfigured to assume more standard building site configurations. Russell suggests that some of the acreage previously planned for the school could provide some buffer along the highway, and perhaps a visual corridor across the property from the highway to the bluffs.
Kenmark also manages OCP’s golf courses. Russell is a big fan of naturalist courses, “Spectacular, non-intrusive golf courses,” noting that the current issue of Golf Digest highlights the world’s top 10 best naturalist golf courses. “You can build golf courses changing the topography very little. You plant less grass, you need less water, you need less fertilizer. There are a lot of golf courses in the world built that way now.”
Water is their number one issue. Recycled water, that is. Better management practices won’t eliminate the need for water, and golf courses need a lot of it. “I’m really focused on reclaimed water, safe, environmentally sound, [it] is critical to the golf course.”
Russell is working with councilmember Ferreira (who serves on SAM as part of his council duties) and other potential users to help move recycled water closer to becoming a reality.
Water occupies their minds in other ways, too. Blufftops erode faster from over-irrigation. And ponds and retention ponds silt up. Taking care of these and other maintenance issues sometimes involve permits. “Under the coastal act, we’re allowed to do a certain amount of maintenance. We expect getting CDPs for larger work outside the scope of maintenance,” says Russell.
And getting along seems to be the new way of doing business. Just imagine what the Coastside would be like if this had been the attitude ten years ago.