New hotel-casino proposed near Stratosphere

Erin Neff

Friday, Dec. 4, 1998 | 11:36 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council will consider Monday whether to issue an unrestricted gaming permit and zoning change for a developer planning a 322,226-square-foot hotel-casino on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Oxford Technology Inc. is requesting a zoning change from high-density residential and general commercial to simply general commercial on a 2.5-acre parcel at 2310 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Oxford presented a site plan to the Las Vegas Planning Commission on Nov. 5 for the project. However, staff raised concerns that a traffic study had not been conducted to determine the potential impact to neighboring Sahara Avenue and other streets.

In response to those concerns, the applicant withdrew the site development plan for the actual casino, but kept his requests for a zoning change and a use permit.

Planners are recommending City Council approve the zoning change, but deny the request for the use permit until a traffic study can be completed. The developer is not submitting the site plan to council for approval.

"Of course a casino makes sense on Las Vegas Boulevard," said Theresa O'Donnell, director of planning and development.

The site is near the Stratosphere, Aztec Inn and Holy Cow casinos and other tourist-oriented businesses on that portion of Las Vegas Boulevard. Although that makes it compatible with a zoning change, O'Donnell worries it will lead to greater traffic congestion.

"The purpose of a use permit though is to determine the appropriate use at that specific location. But how do you do that without a site plan or without a traffic study."

O'Donnell said she also questioned the density of the proposed casino and hotel on a plot the size of two McDonald's restaurants.

"Does the city want the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara to develop piecemeal?" O'Donnell asked. "Doesn't a Strip-size casino make sense here?"

City Councilman Gary Reese, whose ward neighbors the area, said he would "love to see that whole area renovated."

"I would love a Mirage there," Reese said referring to the popular Strip resort.

The site in question is currently developed with a motel and retail shops constructed in 1949, a rental car storage area and a paved lot.

The developer plans to demolish the existing structures and construct the El Mirador Hotel & Casino and a parking structure on that site.