Horn Rapids townhomes could move forward after years of legal disputes surrounding a proposed residential development at Horn Rapids Golf Course in Richland, Washington. Braw Rew, owner of Gale-Rew Construction and operator of the golf course through HJBT Properties, said his attorneys have reached a verbal agreement with Pahlisch Homes to end the lawsuit that threatened to prolong the dispute.
Rew told the Tri-City Herald that the agreement is not yet in writing, but he expects it to be finalized within about a week. If completed, the settlement would allow him to proceed with the planned townhome development.
Horn Rapids Townhomes Project Moves Toward Resolution
The proposed development, known as The Links at Horn Rapids, has been at the center of a dispute involving the golf course owner, Pahlisch Homes, the homeowners association and a small group of residents. Rew has said the project was an important part of his plans when he purchased the 18-hole desert-style course in 2019. Revenue from the development was intended to help fund improvements to the golf course.
The original proposal called for 54 townhome units. Rew previously estimated that the units could have generated about $25 million in sales when first planned. Rising construction and permitting costs have since pushed that projected figure to roughly $33 million. Earlier negotiations also considered reducing the development to 48 units. Rew said he does not currently expect major changes to the first or second phases of the project, although increased construction costs could affect the plans.
Years of Disagreement Over Development
The conflict had been building for several years before Rew filed a lawsuit in Benton County Superior Court. According to Rew’s claims, Pahlisch Homes allegedly used the homeowners association’s code compliance committee to block the proposed project. Pahlisch owns hundreds of undeveloped lots within the wider community.
Pahlisch Homes and the homeowners association previously said their objective was to protect residents affected by the redevelopment. Neither organization’s attorneys responded to the newspaper’s latest request for comment, according to the source report. The dispute also affected potential home sales in the community. Real estate agents reportedly had to disclose the pending lawsuit to prospective buyers looking at properties in Horn Rapids.
Homeowners Raised Concerns
The most affected residents live along Crosswater Loop, where homeowners argued that the proposed Horn Rapids townhomes would sit close to their backyards. Some residents said they had understood that the green space behind their homes would remain undeveloped. The dispute became more complicated when it emerged that an easement covering the area had been incorrectly filed and could not legally be enforced.
As a result, the land became part of a buildable seven-acre parcel near the community’s 18th hole and clubhouse. Plans submitted for the development show the project using much of the available space. For some existing homeowners, the proposed buildings would be only six feet from their back fences. The plans would also eliminate a pond behind several homes, an area residents said attracts wildlife. A proposed turnaround or small parking area could also be constructed near the existing backyards.
Golf Course Future Adds Another Layer
The debate over Horn Rapids townhomes is also closely connected to the future of the golf course itself. The source report says some residents in the broader Horn Rapids community supported the project because they viewed the development as an important financial lifeline for the course. That concern reflects broader challenges facing golf facilities, where maintaining aging infrastructure and remaining financially sustainable can be difficult.
For readers interested in how golf facilities are managed and how strategic decisions can affect a course, My Golf Essentials’ guide to golf course management provides additional context. Its Golf Resources section also covers golf associations, courses and related resources. The Horn Rapids community contains more than 1,400 homes across approximately 835 acres, with hundreds of lots still undeveloped, according to the report. Home prices for available properties start at roughly $535,000, based on Zillow information cited by the source.
What Happens Next?
The tentative agreement does not immediately end every concern surrounding the development. For Rew, however, it could finally clear the way for construction after years of negotiations and litigation. The developer has said the dispute has cost him years of time and millions of dollars in additional anticipated building expenses. For affected Crosswater Loop homeowners, the settlement represents a different outcome. Some residents had pushed for changes to protect their views, backyards and the existing green space.
The next major step will be putting the verbal agreement into writing. Until that happens, the future of the Horn Rapids townhomes project remains subject to finalizing the settlement. If the agreement is completed as expected, a development that has divided the community for years could finally move from the courtroom toward construction.
