NLV in for slow sell of BLM land

The news was good. But not as good as North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon had hoped.

For almost a decade, North Las Vegas officials have been pining for 7,500 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in the northern part of the city. They have wanted the federal government to sell it all at once for the private development of a master-planned community.

But Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt said Thursday the land will be sold in increments over a number of years.

Babbitt was in North Las Vegas to discuss the sale of the BLM land. He said by stretching out the sale, more money will be generated and more builders and developers would be allowed to participate.

Babbitt made his pronouncement during a news conference on the edge of the desert land to be sold.

"This is really a once in a century opportunity, to be part of the creation of an entire community of 25,000 (homes)," Babbitt said. Montandon said between 50,000 and 75,000 people will move into that area during the next 20 years.

North Las Vegas and BLM officials will work on a contract stating that all of the land eventually will be transferred to private ownership.

Babbitt noted that one of the reasons North Las Vegas officials want the land sold all at once is because they want a guarantee that it will all end up in private hands. He noted there is a fear that a future administration may change policy and decide not to sell the land.

A time frame for the land sales has not yet been determined, Babbitt said.

Montandon, who had taken the lead on pushing for a one-stop sale, took Babbitt's announcement well and noted the immense responsibility now falling on the city's shoulders.

"Everyone is asking me, 'Are you disappointed?' Disappointment is too strong a word," Montandon said. "I would rather see all of the land sold to one developer so that he can act as the master-planner for the entire community. Instead, it looks like the city is going to play that role."

Exactly how the city will play this role remains to be seen.

"Look, I learned a couple of hours ago that there is a good chance that we are going to play this role. How exactly, I don't know yet. But I can tell you, we obviously have a lot of work ahead of us," Montandon said.

He said the city will likely design the layout for the community and develop design standards for individual builders to meet.

"To have city staff doing that will cost us money. But I'm confident we will be able to pay for it through the additional property taxes this development will generate," Montandon said.

Babbitt said federal law calls for the government getting the best possible price for the land. By selling it in multiple parcels, it can do that because more individuals and companies can afford to participate in the bidding. The land will be sold to the highest bidder.

"The wonderful thing about this land sale is that it benefits Nevada," Babbitt said. "In the past, when the BLM has sold land, the money has gone straight back to Washington, D.C. Now it all stays here in Nevada."

Under legislation passed by Congress last year, 85 percent of money earned from the sale of the land is returned to the BLM for the purchase of environmentally sensitive land elsewhere in Nevada. The law also calls for 10 percent of the money to go to pay for Southern Nevada water projects and 5 percent to pay for public education in the state.

The legislation calls for the BLM to sell about 27,000 acres in Clark County. The North Las Vegas parcel is one of the largest chunks.

Exactly when the North Las Vegas property will go on the market remains to be seen. Babbitt said BLM and city officials will be in discussions on this issue for several months.

Montandon has estimated the value of the North Las Vegas property at somewhere between $100 million and $150 million.

For nine years, the city has wanted the federal government to sell the land, which will border the planned Las Vegas Beltway.

When the beltway is done, U.S. 95 and I-15 will be linked through this property.

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