Clear Lake Golf Course Sequence of Events, 2002 to the present
(listed in oldest-to-newest order; click here to jump straight down to most recent updates)

01/10/02:
(on or about)

Clear Lake Country Club (RGG, et. al.) buys majority interest in the Clear Lake Golf Club

08/17/05:

Houston Chronicle runs story in the "Bay Area" neighborhood section, reporting that the Clear Lake Golf Club is for sale

10/25/05:
(on or about)

Clear Lake Golf Club closes, apparently for good

11/10/05:

Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA) passes resolution to acquire golf course property for flood control purposes

11/02/06:

Three property appraisers hired by the CLCWA walk the golf course (with the owners' permission) to gather data for their appraisals

11/13/06:

Clear Lake Country Club (the current owners of the golf course property--RGG/Voltmann, et. al.) files "Original Petition" against Exxon to be released from the current deed restrictions

03/01/07:

Clear Lake City Civic League (CLCCL) files "Plea in Intervention" to contest Clear Lake Country Club's request to be released from the deed restrictions

03/01/07:
(on or about)

CLCWA files "First Amended Plea in Intervention" to contest Clear Lake Country Club's request to be released from the deed restrictions (later superseded by "Second Amended Plea in Intervention on 4/18/07)

03/08/07:

House Bill 3232 (HB 3232, which places restrictions on the redevelopment of subdivision golf courses) is filed in the Texas House of Representatives

03/14/07:

CLCWA makes formal offer to purchase Clear Lake Country Club's golf course property

04/09/07:

Clear Lake Country Club (aka RGG/Voltmann) files "Motion to Strike CLCCL's Plea In Intervention"

04/09/07:

Clear Lake Country Club (aka RGG/Voltmann) files "Motion to Strike CLCWA's First Amended Plea In Intervention"

04/18/07:

CLCCL files response to Motion to Strike

04/18/07:

CLCWA files suit to condemn Clear Lake Country Club's golf course property, after the property owners chose not to respond to the formal purchase offer submitted by the CLCWA on 3/14/07

04/19/07:

CLCWA files "Second Amended Plea in Intervention" to contest Clear Lake Country Club's request to be released from the deed restrictions

04/19/07:

CLCWA files response in opposition to Clear Lake Country Club's Motion to Strike

04/20/07:

Original hearing date on whether to approve or reject the CLCWA's and CLCCL's Petitions in Intervention. When the Clear Lake Country Club (RGG) came in at the last minute with new material that had not been communicated to the CLCCL or CLCWA, the judge ordered the material to be delivered, and reset the hearing date to May 11, 2007.

05/07/07:

HB 3232 is passed by the Texas House of Representatives by a vote of 138-0

05/10/07:
(on or about)

In the CLCWA suit to condemn the golf course property, the judge appointed three commissioners to review the property appraisals from both sides and make a determination on fair value of the property. Currently, the commissioners are working to schedule a time where all parties can meet and submit their appraisals.

05/11/07:

Second hearing date on whether to approve or reject the CLCWA's and CLCCL's Petitions in Intervention. The Clear Lake Country Club (RGG) presented their arguments for why the CLCWA and CLCCL should become parties to the deed restriction case. Due to other cases on the judge's docket, neither the CLCWA nor CLCCL was able to present their arguments in favor of joining the case. The judge scheduled another hearing on May 25, 2007 to continue the arguments.

05/23/07:

HB 3232 is passed by the Texas Senate by a vote of 29-0. The version passed by the Senate has minor differences from the House version, and thus a second House vote is required before it goes to the Governor for his signature. The CLCCL initiates a letter-writing campaign to ensure the Governor understands how much the people of the affected communities want this law passed.

05/25/07:

The Senate version of HB 3232 is passed by the Texas House by a vote of 135-0. Despite passing the House twice and the Senate once without a single member voting in opposition, if Governor Perry vetoes the bill, it will not become law. Our letters to the governor are critical!

05/25/07:

Mark Voltmann appeared before the Houston Planning Commission to ask that two tracts of the Inwood Forest Country Club be re-platted from a golf course to commercial development.
The Planning Commission denied the request.

05/25/07:

Third hearing date on whether to approve or reject the CLCWA's and CLCCL's Petitions in Intervention. RGG's legal counsel argued that all evidence from CLCWA and CLCCL be denied. However, the judge ruled that the CLCCL did have standing in the case, and allowed them to intervene. The judge then stated that he would delay a ruling on the right of the CLCWA to intervene, ruling that the lawsuit would be abated until the conclusion of the CLCWA's condemnation suit (acquisition of the golf course via eminent domain) is decided. In layman's terms, the lawsuit to break the deed restrictions has been frozen, and will not be heard if the CLCWA's condemnation suit is successful!

The judge explained that if the condemnation proceeding is not successful by the Water Authority, then Voltmann can return and request that the deed restriction case be heard. That means that the deed restrictions stay in place for the condemnation proceedings. This is fantastic news for all parties opposed to RGG/Voltmann breaking the deed restrictions: It saves the Civic League from a lot of legal fees to try the deed restriction case. The Exxon attorney did a great job and they were happy because they don't have to spend any more time in court. The Water Authority is happy because the condemnation value will be determined on the deed restrictions staying in place.

The community has had some significant successes in the last few days with the progress of HB 3232 and the rulings in the deed restriction case, and we have reason to feel proud of our accomplishments to date. However, HB 3232 is not yet law, and the CLCWA still has to be successful in their condemnation suit before they will take ownership of the golf course. We must remain vigilant and active!

06/15/07:

Governor Perry signed House Bill 3232 into law. It became effective immediately.
Many thanks to all of the Clear Lake City, Inwood Forest, and Quail Valley residents who wrote letters to and/or called their state representatives and the governor to ensure our elected officials understood the importance their constituents placed on this legislation!

08/01/07:

CLCWA Condemnation suit hearing postponed.
The Clear Lake City Water Authority and the current owners of the Clear Lake Golf Club were to present their appraisals of the golf course property to the court-appointed special commissioners today. The process calls for these commissioners to listen to arguments regarding the property's value from both the current owners and the CLCWA, and factor those arguments in when making their property value determination.

The current golf course owners reported that they did not have their property appraisal data ready yet, so this hearing has been rescheduled for September 17.

09/17/07:

CLCWA condemnation of golf course set for trial
An administrative special commissioners hearing held on September 17, 2007 recommended a value of $14,132,000 be established for the property, based on the value of the property without deed restrictions. The CLCWA objected to the valuation recommendation because the special commissioners did not have legal authority to decide on the validity of the deed restrictions. As a result, the validity of the deed restrictions and the land valuation will now be decided in court.

The Clear Lake City Water Authority condemnation of the former Clear Lake Golf Club property has been set for trial on March 17, 2008. The case will be heard in the Harris County Civil Court of Law #1, Judge Jack Cagle presiding. It is anticipated that the issues of the "right to condemn", the amount of land needed for the public purpose, and the fair value of the land will be decided by the six person jury and judge.

03/24/08:

Golf course condemnation Trial rescheduled for first week of September, 2008
The trial date for the CLCWA condemnation of the former Clear Lake Golf Club property originally set for March 17, 2008, has been reset to the first week of September by Judge Cagle. Document discovery requests from the CLCWA legal team to RGG produced over 14,000 pagers of documents which had to be reviewed and follow-up requests prepared. Lawyers from both sides needed more time for additional discovery, depositions, and pre-trial motions. It is anticipated that this will be the only delay in starting the trial.

09/18/08:

Golf course condemnation Trial rescheduled for September 30, 2008
The trial date for the CLCWA condemnation of the former Clear Lake Golf Club property ohas been reset to September 30 by Judge Cagle. (The date change actually occurred in mid-August--your volunteer website curator apologies for the delay in posting the news.)

09/30/08:

Golf course condemnation case hearing status
The Harris County civil courts are running a little behind due to the impact of Hurricane Ike. Judge Cagle has a hearing set for Wednesday, October 1st, at 9 am in his courtroom to hear all the remaining Motions for Summary Judgement (MSJ's). It is anticipated that the new case hearing date will be set for around October 14th so that the judge will have time to rule on the MSJ's prior to the start date.

10/15/08:

Golf course condemnation trial begins
The jury was selected today for the trial regarding the Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA) condemnation of the former Clear Lake Golf Club property. Testimony in the court case will be heard beginning tomorrow, and the trial is expected to continue for up to three or four weeks. The court meets on Tuesday through Friday at 10:00am in Judge Cagle's courtroom (Harris County Civil Court of Law #1) on the fifth floor of the Civil Courts Bldg.

10/30/08:

Golf course condemnation trial to resume Nov. 5
The CLCWA condemnation trial is on a short break and will resume 10:00am Weds, Nov. 5, in Judge Cagle's courtroom.

02/28/09:

CLCWA Loses First Round on Golf Course Condemnation Case
Jurors returned a mixed verdict at the first court level of the CLCWA effort to condemn the former golf course for the purpose of drainage and flood control. While the jury placed a value of $5.1 million on the property versus the $15 million requested by the owner, they also ruled that they did not feel that the WA condemned for the stated purpose of drainage and flood control.

As part of the legal process, the court mandated a mediation session to be held in February. At the end of that session, the mediator will report back to the judge. If the two sides were not able to narrow the gap between their positions, the judge will finalize the first level case and the CLCWA will file their appeal. The normal time frame to move through both the appellate and Texas Supreme Court is somewhere between two and four years.