Oregon Moves Forward With 'Unprecedented' Plans for Coastal Golf Course

Inside the deal that could open a huge swatch of highly protected Oregon coastal land to a developer with plans for a golf course.

2 minute read

May 25, 2015, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Kelly House reports on an unprecedented action in Oregon, where "the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has agreed to privatize 280 acres of the state's public coast so [Mike] Keiser can turn it into a golf course."

According to the terms of the deal, "Oregon State Parks will gain 219 acres of coastal land in exchange for the land Keiser wants, plus $2.5 million to buy more land in the future."

"The properties moving into the parks system include a former Coos County park just south of Bandon State Natural Area, an eroding spit at the mouth of the Coquille River and an 11-acre cove in Lincoln County."

The deal came about after five years of work and after the Chicago-based developer, Keiser, overcame the initial reticence of the Parks and Recreation Department. The federal Bureau of land Management will make the final call on the deal, per terms of the 1968 grant that gave the land to the state.

According to House, "[t]he deal highlights the conflict between preservation and development on Oregon's south coast, where unemployment rates of 7.6 percent in Coos County and 9.1 percent in Curry County are in the state's bottom third. Kitzhaber and his staff pushed the sale as part of his economic development initiative, arguing another golf course in Coos County would create badly needed jobs."

The article includes a lot more detail about the deal, the political machinations that helped bring it about, and the project proposal.

Friday, May 22, 2015 in The Oregonian

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

7 hours ago - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.