Council sets parameters for land sales near golf course

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 | 8:59 a.m.

The Boulder City Council set parameters Tuesday for selling land around the Boulder Creek Golf Course in bid to win voter approval for a June 7 ballot initiative.

In November, Boulder City residents voted 4,384 to 3,928 against selling 45 acres on the northeast side of the golf course. The sale would help pay off the $22 million price tag for building the golf course, and city officials have said the land could fetch between $15 and $17 million.

The November defeat prompted the Boulder City Council on Tuesday night to back a more detailed plan to ease the concern of voters who fear a large and dense development would be built on the land. Residents have also questioned whether the money from the land sale would be used for something other than the golf course debt.

But the city's efforts may not help. A group of residents opposing the sale said they are preparing to file a lawsuit to get the measure removed from the ballot. The group headed by Nancy Nolette and Sherman Rattner contends the ballot language doesn't properly describe the initiative and its ramifications.

City officials said they are following the law and not doing anything to deceive the public.

Boulder City's Charter requires that any sale of 1 acre or more of city-owned land be approved by voters. The city held a public study session in March to get citizen input for a request for proposals to sell the land.

"What we tried to do is put out as much information as possible and lay it out to voters," said Councilman Mike Pacini. "I hope we can give out as much information as we can so they can make a rational decision."

The recent controversy of a proposed state law that would have allowed Boulder City to deannex property for any land sales or swaps may turn some voters against the ballot measure, said Councilwoman Karla Burton.

"I don't think the citizens of Boulder city will be very comfortable with a land sale with this looming," Burton said.

Council members opposed the change in the state law and the developer who proposed it has agreed to drop the bill.

Under the request for proposals reviewed Tuesday by the council for any future land sale, Boulder City:

The developer who purchases the property would have four years to build and be prevented it from selling it to another company. The developer would also be required to pay for utility extensions and hookups.