COLLEGE DISTRICT OFFICIALS WANT PIERCE PLANS PULLED.

Byline: Robert Monroe Staff Writer

Top Los Angeles Community College District officials recommended Thursday that the district scrap the two existing golf course proposals at Pierce College in favor of finishing a master plan.

District Vice Chancellor of Operations Bonnie James made the announcement saying that the college should finish a blueprint for the entire campus rather than build around a golf course.

``We just thought the best approach was to start afresh,'' James said. ``The goal of all this would be to create a unified plan that has the academic mission at its roots.''

The district board will consider James' recommendation at its Aug. 25 meeting.

The golf course proposals have split the Pierce campus and segments of the surrounding community, some of whom want the college's 270-acre farm to remain unspoiled. On the other side are college faculty and community members who say the school needs a revenue source.

Opponents of the golf course idea praised the recommendation.

``This is going to turn the whole college around,'' said Margo Murman, president of the Coalition to Save the Farm. ``. . . This is putting the horse back before the cart.''

But both bidders on the project were shocked at the news. Eddie Milligan, advancing a golf course proposal with former golfer Jim Colbert, said he doubts he'll get back the $250,000 he has paid so far.

Jerry Katell, a developer proposing another golf course plan in partnership with Lowe Enterprises Commercial Group, said, however, he expects have his money refunded.

James said both parties' money would be refunded.

Milligan doubted that future developers will be likely to trust the district following this about-face.

``I don't believe the board of trustees will have any credibility with the real world if they follow the wishes of their staff,'' he said.

James said that the timing of the decision was influenced in part by opinions of the new chancellor, Marshall Drummond, and the college's new president Rocky Young.

``Frankly we got a number of people involved in the process but probably not at the beginning when we should have gotten the expertise that we needed.''

Katell said he didn't find out that the proposals would likely be shelved until receiving a fax from the district Thursday afternoon.

``It's too bad. I honestly believe that there will be a golf course sometime,'' Katell said, adding he doesn't think a golf course would necessarily delay the creation of a master plan.