Investor dusted off the project for the construction of a golf course in Klánovice

Prague - Representatives of the golf club have revived the project for the construction of a course in Klánovice Forest and submitted it again for assessment of the environmental impact of the construction (EIA process). This was reported today by the newspaper E15. The golfers would like to build a nine-hole course, which, along with adjacent buildings, would cover an area of approximately 12.87 hectares. A portion of the residents of Klánovice is long opposed to the plan, as they are concerned that part of the forest would have to be cut down due to the construction.
     The proponent of the plan is the company Forest Golf Resort Prague (FGRP). According to the submitted document, the construction is intended to closely resemble the original course built during the first republic. The holes and practice areas would be located primarily near the current clubhouse. The plan also includes the expansion of the parking lot at the clubhouse.
     Construction will be preceded by the clearing of 12.87 hectares of forest. According to the proponent, this constitutes 1.4 percent of the total area of the forest. The golfers also defend their plan by stating that the trees involved are non-native species that were planted in the areas of the original course in the 1950s.
     Golfers had previously obtained permission for an eighteen-hole course in Klánovice in the 1990s; however, it was not built due to a lack of funds. The EIA process was resumed a few years ago, but due to alleged politicization of the plan, FGRP withdrew its project in 2010.
     The current zoning plan allows for the construction of a golf course in Klánovice Forest, as part of the area is designated for recreation and leisure. However, Prague councilors decided last year that the city hall would have a change in the zoning plan prepared that would prevent construction and convert the land into forested land only. "The change is currently on hold, and we will return to it in June," said CTK Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning Tomáš Hudeček (TOP 09).
     A part of the residents of Klánovice also has long opposed the construction of the course. In 2009, they held a referendum in which the majority of residents rejected the construction. The leadership of the Klánovice municipal office then promised to respect the result of the referendum. "However, the investor does not respect the result of the referendum," noted Klánovice councilor Ladislav Hrabal.
     The leadership of the Klánovice golf club has good relations with some politicians. For example, in May 2010, an informal meeting of ODS chairman Petr Nečas with selected party members was held at the club, which was invited to Klánovice by then-senator and current Minister of Defense Alexandr Vondra.