Calico residents battling developer

Valerie Miller

Friday, Aug. 14, 1998 | 11:14 a.m.

It could have been described as the irresistible force meeting the immovable object, as one Henderson community battled developers at the Citizens Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday night.

The meeting was held at the Henderson Convention Center for the purpose of working out a compromise between residents of Calico Ridge and developers who plan on putting businesses within 20 feet of some homes.

About a dozen people turned out for the discussion and the bus tour of the area that took place right before it. The tour consisted of the entire Calico ridge area between Lake Mead Drive and Olsen Street, and went as far out as Lake Las Vegas.

"I thought the tour was very thorough and really showed you the whole area," commented Calico Ridge resident Pat Beach.

Added Marlene Micheals, "The tour really gave you a feel for the area." Micheals represents the developer, Eagle Rock, which owns 20 of the 30 acres under discussion for industrial development.

The success of the tour, though, seemed to be the only matter residents and developers could agree on this night.

Calico Ridge residents are upset with plans for developing land so close to their homes for industrial use. They complain that there is no buffer from noise and pollution and that the building can stand as tall as 50 feet, blocking their scenic view of the Las Vegas Strip.

"The problem stems from the fact that Calico Ridge developed 40 units at a time, starting back in the 1980s," said Micheal Smith, president of the Calico Ridge Homeowners Association. "Because of this, there was no buffer land required between residential and industrial areas."

Manny Gomez, chairman of the advisory committee, pointed out that the 30 acres being discussed, which are west of Calico Ridge and east of the 589.6-acre Palm City project, was zoned industrial before the community was there.

"Calico Ridge just sprung up around it," Gomez said. He added that residents have to be prepared to compromise with the developers. "I hear from a lot of residents that they want single-family homes on the property, but that's just not going to happen."

Micheals said Eagle Ridge has offered to compromise with the residents but that their demands are unrealistic.

"They want us to give them a 200-foot buffer, which is almost half our property in some areas," Micheals said.

She said that while the code only calls for a 10-foot buffer and allows for buildings to go as high as 50 feet, Eagle Rock intends only a 30-foot building with a 20-foot buffer. She said she has also submitted a proposal to sell the land at a discount to the city and the community for a park.

"Right now children from the area have to go 2 1/2 miles and cross Lake Mead Drive to get to the closest park."

Before concluding the meeting, Gomez emphasized the importance of getting both sides together before the deadline for the committee's report.

"This is an opportunity for us all to work together and this will be done on time," he said. "I'm not going to be still working on this on Christmas Eve."

The advisory committee will meet again to discuss the issue on Aug. 26.