A new housing project at the Badlands golf course in Las Vegas has received initial approval, moving forward despite local opposition.
Las Vegas: A construction company is looking to buy the old Badlands golf course. They want to build 1,480 upscale homes on the 250 acres. On Tuesday night, they shared their plans with the city.
The Planning Commission gave a thumbs up to the project, which is a big step for Lennar Homes. But not everyone is on board. A lot of local residents showed up to voice their concerns during the meeting.
People are worried about the size of the project, crowded schools, traffic, and how the plans were submitted. The Planning Commission helps guide the City Council on zoning and master plans, so this is just the beginning.
Next, the proposal goes to the city council for further consideration. The land is currently owned by EHB Cos., but it’s about to change hands as part of a settlement that could cost the city $636 million.
Las Vegas has been in a legal battle with EHB for eight years. The courts have mostly sided with EHB and its CEO, Yohan Lowie. They claim the city took the land by not allowing development after Lowie bought the golf course in 2015.
Under the new agreement, the city will sell the land to Lennar for $350 million and pay EHB $286 million to settle lawsuits. Last year, the city also paid $64 million to resolve another lawsuit.
On Tuesday, EHB’s attorney backed Lennar’s project, saying they finally agree with the city’s recommendation. Lennar has to meet 25 conditions set by various departments before moving forward.
Attorney Stephanie Gronauer, representing Lennar, showed off some designs for the homes. She addressed concerns from nearby residents, saying they’re only building half the homes allowed by zoning.
Gronauer emphasized that they want the new homes to blend in with the existing neighborhood while keeping them separate. She mentioned that Lennar is committed to making this project work for everyone involved.
Planning Commissioner Trinity Schlottman noted that Lennar didn’t go for the maximum number of homes, which shows they care about fitting into the community. Gronauer said construction could start as soon as they get the green light.
It sounds like a lot of thought went into this plan, and they’re hoping to make it a good fit for the area.
