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DURANT, OK- It's one of Texoma's biggest attractions and today more than 200 people gathered to talk about future plans for Lake Texoma. City and state leaders from both sides of the red river say they'll work together to find the best way to develop it and our economy. Rita Kotey has the story.

"A success in Denison, Texas is also a success in Madill, Oklahoma as we share this asset of Lake Texoma.”

Jared Johnson a Denison city council member joined other city leaders from all over Texoma to talk about what they feel is Texoma's most important resource, the lake.

"Its good to have all the stake holders together talking about development because I think when the lake does develop it needs to be developed right and communication is key to make that happen, " said Scott Fisher.

Scott Fisher with the Pointe Vista Development says he was glad to get the opportunity to share with Texans his ideas about how Pointe Vista can benefit them.

"Oklahoma at this time does not have this kind of resort development it’s important for our state but it’s also important for south Oklahoma and north Texas. I think the timing will be right when Texoma develops I think we will be positioned right in the market and it definitely has the right demographic location between Oklahoma City,” Fisher said.

Developer George Schuler also made a presentation today about how the 2,500 acre Schuler Development will benefit Texoma, bringing visitors to the lake as well as jobs to the area, and money to the economy.

"We think we are bringing a unique product to the area we are working a joint venture with the city on developing that part of the city of Denison," Schuler said.

"Anytime we can get together collaborate with one another try to get on the same page, we are not always going to agree on everything but at the end of the day if our visions the same then we are moving forward," Johnson said. 

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http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/Pointe+Vista+TIF+Presentation_03-12-09.pdf

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Thu June 19, 2008
Lake Texoma land deal OK'd for upscale resort

By Julie Bisbee
Staff Writer
MADILL  Private developers have control of 90 acres of state park land near Lake Texoma and want to purchase about 900 acres of land owned by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The state Tourism Commission on Wednesday approved the sale of property to Pointe Vista Development. The move finalizes a land sale pending for nearly two years.

Pointe Vista plans to demolish the state park lodge and golf course as part of a $750 million plan to build an upscale resort and lakeside living complex.

The lodge has been closed since December 2006.

What are their plans?
The local economy and concessionaires that once relied on visitors struggled to stay afloat the past year.

Commission members waited to approve the sale of land to the developers, who plan to build a conference center, hotel and private residences, until Pointe Vista had reached an agreement with the three concessionaries who operated businesses on state park land.

The final agreement with the owners and operators of Catfish Bay Marina was reached earlier this week, said Scott Fischer of Pointe Vista Development.

The land around Catfish Bay, a popular marina and camping spot, will continue to be public and belong to the state, Fischer said.

Two other parcels of land where the Lake Texoma Fun Park and riding stables were located will now belong to Pointe Vista.

Visitors should see few immediate changes, said Hardy Watkins, Tourism Department executive director.

"There should be no impact through this travel season," Watkins said. "The state park services will not end."

Pointe Vista Development, which includes Aubrey McClendon, chairman and chief executive officer for Chesapeake Energy Corp., and Mark Fischer, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Chaparral Energy, will simply take over the lease at Catfish Bay.

"We're working to make the transition as comfortable as possible," Fischer said. "We plan to carry on the operations in the same fashion."

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March 17, 2009

Friends of Lake Texoma Letter to the Editor 3.17.09

Dear Editor,

The Marshall County TIF review committee met in Kingston last week and heard Pointe Vista officials claim their development could bring in over $531 million in taxes over the next 25 years. But, under the terms of tax increment financing, this money doesn't benefit the whole county it stays within the development area to pay for their infrastructure costs. And, if they go bankrupt, it won't bring in a dime.

The Friends of Lake Texoma State Park (FLTSP) oppose corporate welfare for Pointe Vista's park conversion, because they haven't received approvals by the National Park Service (NPS), or the Corps of Engineers Environmental Branch for taking away our public recreation land. (As this paper pointed out in February, NPS’ Bob Anderson said, "We do not have an approved conversion. No conversion request has been submitted to us.")

We believe Pointe Vista's efforts to gain public funding prove they don't have the money to build, or, they aren't willing to risk their own money, in the event it fails. If they aren't willing to risk it, why should Marshall County?

When asked by one reporter at TIF meeting if Pointe Vista's presentation materials would be made available to her, at first they refused. When she persisted, they agreed to provide them. However, there is a serious problem with what they provided. It's not all there. They omitted something.

They left out an important map which incorrectly represented Pointe Vista project boundaries. That map included Area A The Chickasaw Pointe Golf Course, etc. (north of US 70), and Area B - Lake Texoma State Park (south of US 70). However, they also deceptively included Area C, the 1,000 acres of federal land which they do not own, and may never own.

We have been accused of standing in the way of progress, and delaying this project. The truth is, the state Tourism Department and Pointe Vista officials have mislead the public by failing to discuss the estimated 18 to 24 months required for the Corp of Engineers to complete their Environmental Impact Study (EIS) on Area C. It will also include a critical economic impact component which the TIF committee should review before doing anything else.

The Land Office Commissioners have the oversight authority and legal obligation to protect our state lands. They were in error when they sold the Park without assuring the state's compliance with the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. They can void the land sale contracts with Pointe Vista, and take back the entire park, based on the developer's inexperience and deceptiveness.

Boyd Steele, President
Friends of Lake Texoma State Park

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http://www.pointe-vista.com/info.cfm

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Just thought you might like a little light reading.