Scotch 80s residents pass hurdle for gated community

Denise Cardinal

Friday, Sept. 12, 1997 | 11 a.m.

Scotch 80s, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Las Vegas, could soon join the ranks of the newer subdivisions and become its own gated community.

The Las Vegas Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-2 Thursday night to give the Scotch 80s Neighborhood Association ownership of its streets. Ownership would allow the residents to install an electric gate at the entrance to their neighborhood.

Scotch 80s was started in the 1950s at what is now north of Oakey Boulevard and east of Rancho Drive and south of Charleston Boulevard. It has been home to some of Las Vegas's most prominent residents.

For years the residents have been battling the city's traffic woes and crime rate by installing neighborhood gates, islands and road closures. Now, only one entrance into the neighborhood remains, and for some of the residents, it's one too many.

"This is a great place to live, but we have a lot of traffic," said Frank Scott, who's lived in the neighborhood for several years. "Look around the city and see how many other private gates there are."

Several of the Scotch 80s residents, some represented by lawyers, attended the meeting. Most were in favor of the neighborhood's privatization, telling the board stories of children's stolen bikes, speeding traffic and door-to-door salesmen.

"I had my Lexus almost broken into twice," said Jeri Packe. "Most of us have been trying to do this for six years. It's a beautiful community, and a lot of people aren't aware that it is an inner city neighborhood. I would like the security of knowing that not just anyone can pop in when they want."

But not everyone in Scotch 80s wants their community gated. According to a survey of 123 residents polled, 97 total came back, with 16 responding that they don't want the streets vacated. For most of them, the reason was that they didn't want to have to pay twice for services they just pay once for now in city taxes.

"They want money each month to pay for the streets," said Paul Lampel, a 50-year resident of Scotch 80s. "They're really stepping out of their bounds."

The association, according to treasurer Edson Parker, would cost residents $50 a month, or, if they paid annually, $500. However, there are several other costs that weren't figured into the budget presented to the commission for approval, which could ultimately raise the yearly fees.

Also in question was whether or not residents who didn't want to be part of the association would be required to pay and if they would have the same access to their homes as those who were members. Parker assured the board that no resident would be required to join and access would be equal for everyone in the neighborhood.

Commissioner Stephen Quinn, who voted no along with Craig Galati, was also upset with a request that Parker had made to the city. Parker asked that the planned re-paving of the Scotch 80s streets still be done in the fall as scheduled, even if the streets were then owned by the association at that time. According to Parker, the streets haven't been improved for 20 years, which is three cycles of repair time for most other neighborhood street repairs.

"I've got quite a few concerns," Quinn said. "If you have 66 percent of the residents who approve of the vacation, then there are 34 percent who still don't. And then you still want the city to fix the streets ?"

After the meeting, Parker and other supporters of the commission's decisions said that Quinn's comments were off base.

"We don't want any special treatment," said Parker. "We want what every other neighborhood in Las Vegas gets. We want to be brought up to speed. We get a lot of bad press, saying that we're asking for handouts. We're not."

The request will be reworked by the planning department's staff, and then presented to the City Council on Oct. 13.