Wilson Gee, the owner of the now-shuttered Phoenix club, is taking responsibility for a barbed wire chain-link fence surrounding the property that forces pedestrians off the sidewalk. Gee says he purchased the fence to protect himself from liability from the open lakes on the property, though he did not realize the fence had barbed wire or that it would be placed curbside.
Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Club owner Wilson Gee took responsibility for the controversial barbed-wire-topped chain-link fence that surrounds most of the shuttered property and forces pedestrians off the sidewalk, the Phoenix-based Arizona Republic reported.
In ordering his property fence two weeks ago, Gee said he was attempting to protect himself from liability from the open lakes on the golf course that closed in May. However, he did not know that barbed wire would be atop the fence and he did not realize that it would be placed curbside, forcing pedestrians onto the pavement, the Republic reported.
“I ordered the fence. At the end of the day, it is my fault for my lack of oversight,” Gee said, adding that he has asked the fencing company several times to move it back six to eight feet so that students have a safer path.
Terry Duggan, President of Gee’s Foothills Golf Group, parent company of the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Club, said that the fencing company notified him that the fences were to be moved back from the road on November 7, the Republic reported.
Removing the barbed wire, however, would be an additional cost that Gee is not willing to incur, he said, because he has already spent $22,000 to install the fencing, the Republic reported.
Gee had hinted for more than two years that he wanted to close the golf course and develop the property, which triggered public outrage and formation of Save the Lakes, a group of adjacent homeowners headed by Ben Holt who oppose development, the Republic reported.
Late last month, the Republic reported that homebuilder Pulte Group made an offer and that the property is in escrow while Pulte performs due diligence.
“After two-and-a half years, I gave up,” Gee said. “I’m not developing (the land), and it’s Pulte’s problem now.”
Jacque Petroulakis, a Pulte spokeswoman, acknowledged that Pulte Homes has been in contact with Save the Lakes to organize meetings and solicit feedback. “In addition, Pulte has contacted the owner (Gee) and requested that the fence be removed,” Petroulakis said. “We understand from the owner that this may take time as they need to evaluate their trespass and liability issues first.”
Gee and Duggan this week revealed that proceeds from the sale of the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Club would be used to refurbish Ahwatukee Country Club, which Gee also owns, including building a new clubhouse, the Republic reported.
“It needs a facelift,” Duggan said of the golf course. “It’s old, built in 1972.”
Gee plans to maintain the Ahwatukee Lakes property, cutting down trees and handling weed abatement until a sale closes. Beyond that, he claims that he is done with attempting to negotiate with the Lakes neighbors, the Republic reported.
Pulte, in the technical phase of due diligence, is investigating drainage and other matters that could impact development. If the project progresses, it would work with adjacent residents. Pulte’s development plans are unspecified publicly, the Republic reported.
According to a Phoenix official, zoning in much of The Lakes is low density, RE-35, allowing 1.32 units per acre. That likely would motivate Pulte to request rezoning, a multi-step process that provides for community response, the Republic reported.
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