The Badlands Golf Course saga, entwined with legal battles for years, could potentially conclude this Wednesday. The Las Vegas City Council is set to weigh in on a settlement agreement that could range from $250 million to $286 million. This comes after a series of lawsuits between the city and developer Yohan Lowie, who had been locked in a tug-of-war over the property since his purchase of it in 2015. According to an agenda item referenced by News 3 LV, if approved, this settlement would put an end to the years-long litigation.
Lowie's plans to develop the defunct golf course were originally met with resistance from the city, which denied an application based on public opposition. Filing multiple lawsuits, Lowie argued that this essentially rendered the land economically worthless. The courts sided with Lowie, prompting the city to agree to pursue a settlement in December of 2024 to hastily resolve the disputes. Home construction company Lennar Corporation is at the ready to purchase the property from the city for $350 million and has started plans for 1,480 to 1,750 single-family homes and condominiums on the site, as reported by FOX5 Vegas.
Back in December, when the city council approved nonbinding terms for a settlement, a statement was released that shed some light on the council's position. "The City Council's unanimous vote this morning regarding Badlands is a major step forward in reaching a final settlement in the ongoing litigation. While the terms approved are nonbinding, and will require more work to finalize some remaining details, this item shows a willingness by all parties to bring this long-running issue to a conclusion," emphasized the city statement, obtained by FOX5 Vegas.
Despite the council's steps toward a resolution, community sentiment remains a variable. Community meetings early January saw residents of the Queensridge community, who live near the proposed development by Lennar Homes, seemingly to be firmly opposed to the new plans. Their opposition mirrors the earlier discontent that played a significant role in thwarting Lowie's initial development attempts. As the city council approaches the vote, it remains to be seen whether the settlement agreement will indeed result in a new chapter for the contentious patch of land, as indicated by both News 3 LV and FOX5 Vegas.
