Montage Resort & Spa officials sought to defuse a controversy Friday about possible plans for an expanded golf course at the Aliso Creek Inn acquired last year.
Officials from the Laguna Beach resort stressed that they haven’t set any plans yet for Aliso Creek Inn.
The prospect of expanding the inn’s golf course into in the nearby Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park has made the issue a flashpoint for environmentalists.
“We are not under contract for any other parcels of land at this time,” said John Mansour of development partner Athens Group, which is working with Montage on the project.
Mansour and Montage Resorts Chief Executive Alan Fuerstman said an expanded golf course isn’t a requirement for Montage to compete with other coastal resorts.
City, county, state and federal agencies would have to approve the expansion.
