WAYZATA — In a unanimous vote on July 1, the Wayzata City Council approved a full exemption for golf courses from the city’s Tree Preservation Ordinance, clearing a regulatory path for ongoing renovations at both Woodhill Country Club and Wayzata Country Club.
The decision follows nearly two years of dialogue between Woodhill officials and city staff. Golf course representatives argued the ordinance—which was designed to regulate tree removal by residential developers—created excessive costs and delays for institutions with proven land stewardship practices.
“We have two golf courses in our community… They are both very highly regarded,” said Councilmember Ken Sorensen. “I think if you’ve got attention to that environment at all, courses—especially these—are extremely good stewards of their properties.”
Why the Change?
Adopted in 2022, Wayzata’s current Tree Preservation Ordinance aimed to combat mass clear-cutting by requiring replacement plantings, steep per-inch fees for tree removal, and multi-year escrow deposits. While this has worked in residential neighborhoods, golf courses say it presents a burdensome and inappropriate fit for large-scale green institutions.
“This tree ordinance is designed for residential development, [but] now treats us like a subdivision project,” said Erik Tolzmann, Woodhill’s Building and Grounds Superintendent. “We’ve experienced a number of failures from a fallen tree, multiple near-miss incidents, and just recently had a very large limb fall dangerously close to members…”
Tolzmann added: “We need the authority to make safety decisions quickly and effectively without bureaucratic impediments.”
Mayor Mullin Clarifies: Safety Always Comes First
While golf course leaders argued the ordinance delayed preventative action, Mayor Andrew Mullin clarified that the ordinance already permits emergency removals: “There is a failure clause which says… we will never penalize the tree manager for making a safety-based call.” He emphasized that dangerous limbs or trees may be removed at any time, regardless of ordinance procedures.
Three Options, One Clear Vote
Council reviewed three possible ordinance amendments:
- Option One – A full exemption from all fees and requirements.
- Option Two – A case-by-case exemption, with reduced fees and a required tree plan.
- Option Three – A Planning Commission-recommended hybrid requiring a detailed Tree Management Plan for long-term exemption.
Ultimately, the Council unanimously passed Option One. Councilmember Molly MacDonald noted the importance of being able to revisit the decision if needed: “If something goes wrong, can we change that? … If you guys start not managing your property right, we need to have some sort of repercussion.”
City Manager Jeff Dahl confirmed: “Council can always come back and amend the code.”
Historic Stewards of the Land
Founded in 1915, Woodhill Country Club has maintained its 140-acre grounds along Lake Minnetonka for more than a century. Wayzata Country Club, established in 1956, is also in the midst of major renovations. Both clubs operate across city borders and maintain thousands of mature trees, often with certified arborists and national consultants.
“I also am very proud of our tree preservation ordinance,” said Councilmember Alex Plechash. “But we were thinking entirely about residences… I think you know where I’m going with this. I kind of like option number one.”
Councilmember Molly MacDonald agreed with the direction but floated the idea of a one-time park dedication fee for institutional exemptions. “It doesn’t quite seem fair [to exempt them entirely],” she said. “Maybe consider a one-time fee to cover staff time or offer the public a good.”
Even so, support for a full exemption remained strong. Councilmember Jeff Parkhill noted: “I would say option one… You guys are qualified to manage your own properties. You’re incented in the right way.”
What’s Next
The exemption applies to all golf courses within Wayzata city limits—currently Woodhill and Wayzata Country Club—and is expected to serve as a model for how similar communities handle the intersection of environmental policy and institutional land use.
Final adoption of the amendment will take place at a second reading later this month.
