The long-running land-use dispute between the City of Las Vegas and the owner of the defunct Badlands golf course could be on the path toward a resolution next week, just after an election in which it has been a key issue.

The city council is expected to discuss and possibly vote on a plan to settle the nine-year legal matter by paying between $250 million and $286 million to the developer. That’s less than half of what the city could have had to pay in the dispute.

The vote is expected to come the day after Las Vegas residents elect a new mayor and council person. Badlands has been one area of agreement between the two mayoral candidates, former Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and Councilwoman Victoria Seaman. Both have advocated settling the matter once they take office.

In August, the city council approved spending $500,000 on outside lawyers to continue the lawsuits, which were thought at the time to potentially cost taxpayers upward of $450 million to $650 million. Seaman voted against the payment.

A source familiar with the matter but not authorized to discuss the lawsuit said representatives of Badlands owner Yohan Lowie and the city attorney’s office have been in discussions about settling the lawsuit, but a financial agreement has not yet been reached. 

City spokesman Jace Radke said Thursday a favorable vote by the council would allow the city attorney to negotiate a final settlement with the developer under the financial parameters set by the city. 

He said if an agreement to end nine years of litigation could be reached quickly, the matter could be back in front of the council in December – the last council meeting for Mayor Carolyn Goodman — for final approval.

In an emailed statement, Berkley said she was aware of the agenda item.

"This would bring great relief to both taxpayers and the developer, potentially ending this costly, long-standing nightmare that began almost a decade ago and has impacted the city of Las Vegas significantly," Berkley said.

According to the agenda item, funds for the settlement would come from the city’s Liability Insurance and Property Damage Fund. 

The legal battle began shortly after subsidiaries of EHB Cos., where Lowie is CEO, purchased the 250-acre golf course near Alta Drive and Rampart Boulevard in 2015 to turn it into an expansive housing community. 

Residents of the adjacent Queensridge neighborhood opposed the project and the city blocked the development.

During a mayoral forum in September, Berkley and Seaman agreed the city needed to end the Badlands litigation but disagreed on how to go about the process.

“I also think a change of leadership at the top will go a long way into moving the city council in the direction of yes,” said Berkley, who lives in the Queensridge community, which is bisected by Badlands. “Even before I get sworn in, I'm going to sit down with my fellow council members and ask how we can get to yes.”

Seaman was first elected to the council in 2019 following a recall campaign over a previous councilman's handling of the Badlands issue. She was critical of how Goodman handled the long-running land-use dispute during an interview with The Nevada Independent.

“I don't think she [Goodman] did the right thing when it came to Badlands,” Seaman said.

Updated at 7:56 p.m. on 10/31/2024 with a statement from Shelley Berkley.