Death Threat Underscores Controversial Golf Course Redevelopment Meeting

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The handwritten death threat delivered to the Eagan City Council was as clear as it was chilling.

It read: “Any council member voting for developing Parview [sic] will die!! You are all in on it with the develper [sic]!!”

The note, signed by the letters “FOPV”, was read aloud by Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire at the start of a public hearing on Tuesday night regarding planned for the 80-acre in Eagan. To read the note, click here.

After reading the note, Maguire issued a stern admonition to the packed house gathered at to discuss the proposal, which calls for the conversion of the golf course into a 174-unit residential development.

“There’s not a place in our community for this kind of discussion,” Maguire said. “I’m not going to tolerate us lowering the level of discourse on this issue to this kind of garbage.”

At the heart of the heated debate is a request from developer Hunter Emerson for a Comprehensive Guide Plan amendment to change the land use designation of the golf course from private recreational to low density residential. Such an amendment, if approved, would allow the company—represented by local developer Kurt Manley—to proceed with plans to build homes, trails, a pool and other amenities on the site.

Despite an from the Eagan Advisory Planning Commission to deny the amendment, the council voted unanimously on Tuesday to forward the proposed change to the Metropolitan Council for review. If the Met Council approves the land use amendment, it will likely return to the Eagan council for final approval later this year.

The situation mirrors another redevelopment battle fought years earlier to decide the fate of Carriage Hills Golf Course. In 2004, Eagan officials refused to permit a developer to build a residential neighborhood on the site, located off Yankee Doodle Road.

The developer sued and the case eventually went to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which questioned whether the city’s denial was unfairly restrictive for the property owners, who claimed they were left without any reasonable use for the land.

Eager to avoid repeating mistakes, the council during Tuesday’s meeting sought to strike a balance between the rights of private property owners and the interests of the community and the public.

While many community members expressed a desire to keep Parkview Golf Course on the property, Parkview co-owner Rob Zakheim contended that the business was no longer viable due to long-term downward trends in the golf industry—a point that gained traction with Maguire and other council members.

“I’m convinced that the golf use is not working for these owners,” Maguire said. “It’s just not right for people to say, ‘Your property has a benefit to me, and I want you to maintain that benefit for me.’ If you want that benefit, then you should pay for it.”

Low-density housing may be the best option without any feasible alternatives for the property, Maguire and fellow Eagan City Councilor Cyndee Fields said during the meeting.

“I’m torn, yes, I’m torn like every neighbor, I’ve lived through developments in my neighborhood,” Fields said. “If not this, then what, and what are we going to do about [the property]?”

But Fields, Maguire and fellow Councilor Paul Bakken weren’t willing to move forward on the land use amendment without conditions.

Those conditions included asking Hunter Emerson work closely with city officials and neighbors while designing the project to ensure the development met the density goals and quality standards of the city.

Pat Campbell, a spokesperson for a group of community members standing against the redevelopment plans, expressed disappointment in the city’s decision, but pledged to stay involved as the project moved forward.

"It seems like once the trigger is pulled on a purchase agreement, the cards are stacked against anybody opposed," Campbell said, referring to the purchase agreement Hunter Emerson has for the golf course property.

As for the death threat received by the council?

The letter has been forwarded to Eagan police for investigation, according to Eagan Communications Director Tom Garrison.