Homeowners fighting to keep rural lifestyle

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, April 7, 1998 | 9:52 a.m.

NORTH LAS VEGAS -- Larry Rosenbaum bought his home in the Ranch Estates Preservation Area because he knew he had a rare opportunity to live a rural lifestyle in a metropolitan area.

What he didn't know was that he would be fighting to protect that lifestyle for the next four years of his life.

Rosenbaum is one of many residents in the North Las Vegas neighborhood who are fed up with addressing the City Council each time developers petition for smaller lots and more homes at the ranch estates.

"We have half-acre lots with a park and a couple of schools," Rosenbaum said. "It's a nice rural setting right in the middle of town. But now good old American entrepreneur greed has taken over."

Rosenbaum has pitched his position to the City Council six times in the past four years. But the Fisher Avenue resident is considered a rookie compared to neighbors.

Michael Judd has been scanning council agendas for more than 10 years to ensure a Ranch Estates Preservation Area parcel isn't up for rezoning. Many times it is.

"This is a long hard-fought battle," Judd recently told City Council members. "I think it needs to end."

About a decade ago, the North Las Vegas City Council promised homeowners in the ranch estates it would keep parcel sizes at a half-acre or larger and they would be designated for single-family residences.

But the action was merely a pledge and over the years, some lots were sold and rezoned for commercial use.

Now residents are urging the City Council to develop a resolution that would protect the Ranch Estates Preservation Area from commercial uses or higher density developments.

"The resolution would be a strong commitment that they (city officials) will honor the agreement made eight years ago," Development Services Director Donald Schmeiser said.

Rosenbaum said during the past four years, developers have wanted to trim lot sizes on an undeveloped 20-acre parcel to a quarter acre so they could squeeze more homes in the subdivision. They then proposed one-third acre lots, condominiums and, most recently, tract homes.

Typically the developer gets an option on the land to purchase it subject to the city rezoning the property, Schmeiser said. If the rezoning request is denied, the developer allows the option to expire.

The ranch estates are slowly being whittled away because the City Council has approved rezoning, some residents say. Evidence of that came Wednesday, when council members approved a Walgreen Drug Store for the corner of Decatur Boulevard and Craig Road.

Rosenbaum said he and his neighbors aren't opposed to development on the 20 acres adjacent to their homes, they simply want a consistent plan. They want lots where their children have space to play.

"I'm not objecting to development, I know it's going to come and I look forward to it," Rosenbaum said. "But there's a big difference between 20 homes and 40 homes."

After more than a decade, the council Wednesday appeared ready to pass a resolution committing itself to preserving the ranch estates area.

Despite a mild protest from council member William Robinson, councilman John Rhodes recommended putting off a ranch estates decision until all land use possibilities can be studied and a formal map created. The issue may finally be resolved during the council's April 15 meeting.

"I've been dealing with this group since 1983 and I have the scars to prove it," Robinson said. "These people have been coming here to deal with this for 14 years. I think we need to get this resolved."