NLV residents build case against development

Andy Holtmann

Thursday, Oct. 16, 1997 | 11:25 a.m.

NORTH LAS VEGAS -- While this city is growing by leaps and bounds, residents have made it clear that trying to squeeze too many people into one area is not the answer.

Roughly 50 people spoke out against two agenda items involving high-density development at Wednesday's City Council meeting.

One involved developer Barry Becker's request for a one-year extension of time for his resolution of intent to build for-rent townhouses near Alexander Road and Kings Hill Road.

The problem is that much of the surrounding area is zoned for single-family homes and residents don't like the idea of rental units nearby.

"I picked this neighborhood because it was a good, clean, quiet place to live," said resident Greg Povich. "I don't want gunfire ripping through my streets."

Other arguments included a danger to children due to increased traffic, the idea of the townhomes being two stories and eliminating privacy, enrollment in local schools being too high, and property values dropping.

Resident Doris Blye summed up her neighbor's concerns with a quick statement that invoked a rousing applause from the audience.

"Nobody here wants rentals in their neighborhood, so let's not allow it to happen," she said.

Mayor Mike Montandon said this was not the first time this issue had come before the council and that the residents had a legitimate point. What he didn't like was the way they were attacking renters.

'It's hard for me to sit here and listen to all of the discriminatory remarks I'm hearing," he said. "I have little patience for the argument that if they can't live like me, then they aren't as good as me."

Councilman John Rhodes noted that Becker has worked with the council on several projects over the years and has never let the city down. Becker had also recently set aside land near the area in question for a new school.

Becker then volunteered to change the townhomes from a rental to a for-sale status and limit the number of units per acre to 10. He asked for a two-year extension on his resolution of intent to make the adjustment. The council approved the two-year extension and sent the issue back to the Planning Commission for further review.

Another agenda item received even more opposition. A consideration to reclassify land near Alexander and Revere Street from single family to planned unit development (PUD) was denied by the council.

Larry Nelson, speaking on behalf of the applicant, DHD Development, said this was a for-sale project.

Many of the same people who spoke out against Becker chose to remain to fight Nelson as well. The 12.8 units per acre that Nelson was proposing was nearly double the amount that current zoning allowed.

Clark County schoolteacher Olivia Fulton said that Wilhelm Elementary, the school closest to the area, currently has 1,025 students enrolled. The school is designed to hold roughly 650 children.

"We cannot do this," Fulton said. "Even if these projects aren't developed for a couple of years, it still comes down to where do we put the kids?"

After hearing nearly 45 minutes of resident testimony, the council opted to deny the project based on residents' concerns.

After the meeting, Nelson said he thought the community involvement was great. He was disappointed in the decision and said the public has a misconception of higher-density dwellings.

"The problem is not rentals, it is the public's perception of them," he said. "The perception is that only drug dealers live in rentals and you know this is simply not true. Some of the best people in the world have to rent."