Boulder City residents debate course of desert development

The proposed development of a swath of desert in Boulder City sparked a lengthy debate about zoning and land use during Wednesday's Planning Commission meeting.

But the issue boiled down to this: Which do people care more about -- birds or birdies?

Groups of golfers and wildlife enthusiasts created a crowd of about 50 people who offered planning commissioners their take on the city's proposal to change the zoning of a 1,400-acre parcel to special recreation.

The city must rezone the property, currently a mix of commercial, public and quasi-public areas, to entertain an offer by the MGM Grand hotel-casino to build two world-class golf courses.

A group of Boulder City business people is also planning a third course called Red Ridge near the interchange of U.S. 95 and U.S. 93.

"The City Council will have to make the decision on whether to lease the land," Planning Commissioner Vivian Harrison told residents after the board voted 4-1 to follow the city's recommendation. "Changing the zoning won't change the property itself."

Several Boulder City residents said they cherish the targeted property that abuts the River Mountain foothills because of the wide variety of wildlife seen during hikes and bike rides.

Doug Haag, who leads hikes through the foothills, said building golf courses would create a wildlife island, hindering some animals' seasonal migration across the desert floor.

"We have natural desert there that is a bighorn sheep nursery and breeding ground," he said. "If they can't migrate, there will be inbreeding and eventually death."

Vern Edmondson said not only do bighorn sheep wander through the hills, but sightings of desert tortoises and golden eagles also thrill hikers and campers. Golfers, he said, would be like fisherman who tire of the same stream and eventually move on.

"You have to remember, in wilderness, there is heaven," he told commissioners.

Hikers, however, were outnumbered by golfers and people who simply feel that vast, green golf courses are more likely to woo visitors than is bare desert terrain.

In addition to pulling in an estimated $1 million a year to the city's budget, resident Pat Grace said, golf courses would be the cleanest type of industry developed on the land.

"When I come into town, I see signs that say, 'Welcome to clean and green Boulder City,' " he said. "The only thing green out there are those signs."

Commissioners requested an opinion from the National Wildlife Services and said a letter from the agency says wildlife would not be adversely affected by golf courses.

Others said that, even if animals are displaced, cities must develop to progress.

"Not a city in the world would be built if animals had not been removed," said Dorothy Frassmann, a resident and golfer.

One of the MGM's courses would be exclusively for guests of the hotel-casino along the Strip. The other will be a semi-public facility. Both courses would be designed by world-renowned course designer Rees Jones.

Casino officials said they have no interest in introducing gaming to Boulder City or in building hotels or homes near the golf courses.

Because two commissioners abstained from the discussion and vote, the commission could not approve amendments to the master plan and instead must send a letter of recommendation to the City Council.

The council will hold another public hearing before making the final ruling on the zone change. It has not determined when that meeting will take place.

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