Save the Lakes Ahwatukee

The judges ordered Wilson Gee to restore the golf course so it would meet homeowners “reasonable expectations.” The judge didn’t say it needs to have the lush green carpet like the days of abundant water; he gave Gee flexibility to adapt to the times. But homeowners don’t believe the judge meant it should look like a construction zone. Despite years of judicial rulings, deadlines, penalties, and negotiations, homeowners have nothing better than a barren, bare-bones golf course.  The course lacks basic amenities and landscaping. The most charitable thing to say is that course is attracting many golfers and that its appearance is less bad than after Gee destroyed the course to build houses.  

Foot dragging

Gee has practiced strategic  foot-dragging for almost 10 years  Gee has gone through the motions of following the court rulings, but he has made no secret that he is willing to bide his time until he can develop the land. He does just enough to fulfill the letter of court rulings. The meager renovations confirm that running a golf course is not his real motivation.  The course is busy and its parking lot often full; it seems reasonable that a course owner with a busy course would plow some of its receipts into upgrades, as the owner of the Ahwatukee Golf Club is doing.

Now in mediation  

After months and months of delay, a judge set a timetable for renovations and required Gee to post a bond until each step was completed.  The bond still has not been released to Gee because he hasn’t met requirements. When that process bogged down, the court sent the parties to a mediator to work out their differences – a process that requires the parties to negotiate in good faith.  The case has been in mediation for about many months with many issues yet unresolved. They include the number of trees, shrubs, sealing the lakes, the club house, mosquitoes, odors and more.

This is the website of Save the Lakes, a group of Ahwatukee residents concerned about our neighborhoods. We supported residents who pursued a lawsuit against the golf course owner and work to educate the community about the importance of land-use regulations, particularly those pertaining to Ahwatukee Lakes and Ahwatukee Golf Club

Pardon the chaos: This website is under construction.