Drought restrictions and a moratorium on new golf courses led to the termination of a long-term lease between Clark County and golf course developer Bill Walters on Tuesday.
Commissioners voted to end the agreement with Walters, paving the way for a new regional park near the southeast corner of Durango Drive and Warm Springs Road.
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Despite applause from residents who live near the property, commissioners didn't move forward without some reservation.
Walters gained control of the property in 2001 when he agreed to build two golf courses on 340 acres of public land owned by the county.
Three years later, Walters returned to the commission and successfully lobbied for a commercial zoning change on 65 acres immediately adjacent to Warm Springs and Durango. Walters contended he needed the commercial property to help pay for the golf courses.
Grading is under way to accommodate a shopping center and medical offices. But Walters, waiting for a permit to use enough water for the golf course, never broke ground on the remaining acreage.
Earlier this year, commissioners agreed to ban new golf courses because of the drought. Walters agreed to return the land to the county, which plans to build a new park.
Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates suggested that Walters should help fund the new park since he held onto the land for years without fulfilling his obligation to build a golf course.
"We should get some benefits, and this doesn't address benefits at all," Atkinson Gates said. "I'm quite disappointed. It would be nice if Mr. Walters contributed to that park, since he had this land for so many years."
Instead, the county must return a $500,000 letter of credit to Walters.
Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, whose district includes the golf course land, said he is pleased the golf course has been nixed.
"It's very good news, something that some of us requested some time ago," Woodbury said. "I think we definitely don't want to see another golf course development at the time of a drought."
Walters was given deadlines for the commercial portion of the property. Commissioners agreed to place a June 2009 deadline on land where Walters is building his commercial center. Medical offices on an adjacent 25 acres must be built by June 2010.
