Rhodes plan takes first step

Jeff Schweers

Thursday, June 20, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The Clark County Commission has approved the first major step for a controversial development in the southwest valley, despite objections from residents who see their rural lifestyle being destroyed.

The board voted 4-1 Wednesday to approve the concept plan for the 1,600-acre Rhodes Ranch project north of State Route 160 and west of Durango Drive.

More than 100 homeowners opposed to the project waited patiently until late afternoon, then sat through two hours of debate before the board gave the project the green light.

Commissioners insisted their vote was for a study of the problems associated with the project -- water, sewage, roads and preservation of the existing rural neighborhood -- and to come up with plan that addresses those issues.

"This doesn't lock anybody into anything," Commissioner Myrna Williams said. "It gives you a chance to address those issues you find repugnant."

Neighbors were skeptical that the adoption of the concept plan for the mixed-use development would give them ample opportunity to address their concerns.

"We just have to keep fighting," said Hal Long, who's opposed the project since it first became public. "I don't see why we should waste taxpayers' dollars studying this concept."

John Hiatt, chairman of the Enterprise Town Board, said if the intent is to study the issues, the county code should be changed to allow a full-blown hearing, and not to approve a concept.

Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, the lone dissenting vote, agreed it was vague as to whether the board was approving a specific concept, or a study of all possible proposals for the land.

"The concept the developer put in front of you, if you found offensive, you could say no and not approve this," Assistant District Attorney Chuck Hauser advised the board.

Residents said it's now the county's responsibility to make sure the process goes the way it should, with homeowners' input on issues such as water and sewage that will affect the entire region.

Approval of the concept plan is the first step in the county's major projects review, designed to study the issues surrounding huge developments.

The last two projects that began with the concept plan were eventually approved by the board -- the 6,000-acre Summerlin South and the 250-acre Champions Condominiums.

While some residents said they preferred the master-planning concept to piecemeal zoning, others were opposed to the project because they said it represented leapfrog development.

"I don't know how you could approve a concept that goes against everything you are saying," Robin Olson said. "The concept is wrong."

But Commissioner Erin Kenny said, "We're just asking staff to see if it's a viable concept at all."

Special projects coordinator Bonnie Rinaldi said the board's decision scraps the original plans submitted by developer Jim Rhodes and begins a major projects review process that could take at least 105 days before the board takes any final action.

"The plan he has is not what I'm recommending he should submit," she said. "All the detail in his plan was a wasted effort. We're going to be looking at mixed use in general terms."

Rhodes originally had sought zoning changes on 1,603 acres stretching from Russell Road almost to State Route 160, between Durango and El Capitan. The variances would have allowed him to build up to 15,000 homes and apartments and a golf course and reserve land for a hotel-casino.

But under the concept plan, density and other land use issues are among the needs to be addressed, Rinaldi said, expecting a great deal of modification from the original plans -- which is why she advised Rhodes not to make any promises to residents opposed to the project.

"This is absolutely consistent with what we have been asking for," said George Holman, general counsel for Rhodes Design and Development. "We will work diligently with the county to address the concerns of the county and neighbors."