Laughlin Economic Development: Land
Developable Land
Available lands for development are no longer a hurdle for Laughlin's economic diversity efforts. The Bureau of Land Management has approximately 1,700 acres of disposable lands available for auction and interest in Southern California Edison’s 2,400 acres of lands in the middle of town has increased in recent months. But, it is the Southland area that is stirring up excitement.
9,000 acres
In the 2007 Nevada Legislature, the State transferred ownership of 9,000 acres of Colorado River Commission lands to Clark County for the purpose of development. The 9,000 acres, known as Southland, borders the Colorado River on the east and the California state line on the south. Needles Highway, which connects Laughlin to I-40 in Needles, California, transverses the property. Clark County and Laughlin town officials have begun feasibility studies for business and industrial park developments. As well, extensive master plans for wet and dry utilities are being conducted by Clark County and other stakeholders.
Creating a sustainable community while embracing the social, cultural and recreational elements of the area are priorities in the planning process. The vision for the site is to create a diverse community that includes technology, alternative energy, housing, employment, open space, and recreational components.
A master plan will evaluate the technical, regulatory, and market aspects of proposed uses and identify how best the Town of Laughlin should proceed in development. This will include identification of which portions of the 9,000 acres are useable, what major technical challenges would present themselves, soliciting public comment and identification of creative ways a sustainable development will occur within legal, regulatory and institutional constraints.
Bureau of Land Management
A few years ago, the Bureau of Land Management auctioned approximately 365 acres of land in north Laughlin near the Laughlin Junior/Senior High School for development. There are approximately 1,700 more acres earmarked for disposal in that area that can be auctioned through the public process. The Bureau of Land Management GSA process can be investigated through the Nevada office. More information can also be found on Clark County's Comprehensive Planning Department Library pages and on our Federal Lands Contact site.
Southern California Edison
After sitting idle for four years, Southern California Edison has announced the decommissioning of the 30-plus year old Mohave Generating Station. SCE, along with its co-owners, have decided to remove the coal-fired generating station from its 2,400 acre site. The contract for decommissioning and removal was awarded in mid-2009 and the work will proceed through 2011. The transmission and switchyard and some other related facilities of the coal-fired plant, which once generated 1,580 megawatts of power daily for more than one million average homes in the southwest, will remain in place. No decision has been made about the final disposition of the plant property. Among options being considered by Mohave's owners are the sale of the site and construction of a renewable energy project. Owners of the facility include SCE, Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, NV Energy and the Los Angeles Department of Power and Water.
General Plans & Studies