Belleair Officials Love For Golf?

Last updated on July 12, 2021

Yet, another golf course gets rubber-stamped approval. Belleair officials agreed to lease an acre of prime town-owned land to the Belleair Country Club.

Belleair’s case-hardened negotiation team unanimously approved leasing one acre of town-owned property. Neighboring Hallett Park of the 22 parks Belleair’s needs to maintain.

To the Belleair Country Club to create a new hole overlooking Clearwater Harbor along the bluffs.

It took Belleair a year ago, more time than they took to sell the Belleview Biltmore to the Pelican Golf LLC, to finalize the agreement with the Belleair Country Club. They agreed to lease an acre of Belleair-owned land (actually our land) to the Belleair Country Club.

I couldn’t find details on the town’s website. However, tbnweekly.com said Belleair agreed to a 30-year lease for just over a million dollars.

That is a 100% deductible expense for BCC. I’m not familiar with the property, and perhaps its only good for a par three golf hole?

It’s a deal. Only, of course, if you’re the Belleair Country Club. Is to lease an acre of town-owned land for a 30-year term. In return, the town will receive (a ham sandwich) just over a million dollars from BCC. A whopping $2,800 a month. If these terms are correct by the time the Belleair Country Club sharpens its pencil. They got it for free! They did good!

But if it could be used for the residence and BCC uses it for free, duplicate the No. 7 hole at Pebble Beach. It seems like a ridiculous deal and a very insignificant amount to pay for a prime waterfront acre of land? With Belleair budget woes. Wouldn’t residents have been better served? If Belleair sold the property. Had someone built an eco-friendly residence?

Homes in that area pay between 25K to 70k a year in property taxes. Or even another non-profit organization that complements the location?  There’s a 1/3 acre on Palm View Ave, in Belleair. With an asking price of a half-million dollars.

Does anyone know the details of the lease? How much property taxes will the town collect? Does anyone think this was a benefit for Belleair residents?