PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A project to renovate the Cobbs Creek Golf Course moved one step forward Tuesday when a Philadelphia City Council committee approved exceptions to the city’s zoning code.
The Cobbs Creek Foundation generated controversy when it cleared hundreds of trees from the currently-closed city-owned course earlier this year after cutting a deal to restore the flood-ravaged property.
Now, it’s a step closer to getting permission to remove trees from hills on the course after Council’s Rules Committee approved an exception to the steep slope zoning rule, meant to prevent erosion on hillsides.
The city closed the course in 2020 because of a lack of funding to address erosion and safety issues caused by years of flooding from Cobbs Creek. The foundation, led by golf enthusiasts, raised $65 million to restore the course. Hundreds of trees were removed as part of the course restoration effort.
Tuesday’s approval came after a hearing that included both skepticism and enthusiastic support.
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Foundation president Jeff Shanahan said clearing trees from some slopes on the course was necessary for the rebuilding project that will ultimately benefit the community.
“We’ll have a properly-flowing creek. We’ll control the erosion along the creek bank,” he said. “We also have a project for a combined sewer overflow to stop the raw sewage from flowing from the adjacent neighborhood into the creek which happens as we speak now.”
Most witnesses supported the bill, including seventh-grader Paulisa Lugo-Perez, who’s excited about the project’s education center.
“I think this project is wonderful and would really benefit the students, and open new doors and opportunities for us young children,” said Lugo-Perez.
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Attorney Lawrence Szmulowicz objected, noting the bill was introduced after the zoning board denied an exception to the foundation.
“They don’t even have to consult with the Overbrook community. This is wrong,” said Szmulowicz.
But Councilmember Curtis Jones sponsored both the exception and the steep slope legislation, which he said was intended for overdevelopment, not for a golf course.
“Woodlands were being chopped down in order to put condos up,” he said about the overdevelopment project that led to the legislation.
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Jones said he’s proud of the golf course project, which will restore a course of historic importance. When it was built in 1916, it was one of few in America where Black golfers could play.
“This is a historic restoration that will be nationally recognized and I’m proud that it’s in Philadelphia,” said Jones.
His bill also allows oversized fences around the proposed two-story driving range.