Consultants propose new zoning ideas

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1998 | 11:12 a.m.

A Chicago-based consultant working with Clark County planners presented a variety of proposed changes in the zoning ordinance Tuesday during a joint meeting between the Planning Commission and County Commission.

Discussions varied from landscaping requirements to creating new zoning such as mixed-use.

The county is in the early stages of rewriting the zoning ordinance to simplify sections and make it more efficient. The final draft won't be presented to the Clark County Commission for a year.

On Tuesday, principle planner Lebene Ohene, a member of the focus group that zeroed in on commercial districts, suggested the county consider minimum landscaping standards for businesses.

"Landscaping is used as a buffer," Ohene said. "They can just stick a few sticks in there and that's it. The county should provide minimum standards that everyone meets."

The group also recommended applying the same setback requirements to commercial businesses that are applied to hotel-casinos: The higher the building, the greater the setback distance.

"If you have a high-rise, you don't have people looking down into residential areas," Ohene said.

The consultant, Camiros Ltd., suggested the county also require greater setbacks for new hotel-casinos along the Strip. The average setback on the resort corridor is about 15 feet; the consultant recommended the range be between 25 feet and 30 feet.

Camiros Ltd. recommended the county incorporate a mixed-use zone to allow for high-rises with specialty shops on the bottom floor and residential or office space on the higher floors.

Lesa Coder, assistant director of the current planning division, said if a developer planned to build such a high-rise today, it would have to apply for commercial zoning on the bottom floor and residential zoning on the upper floors.

The county also addressed neighborhoods that abut busy thoroughfares. Homeowners who have houses on busy streets have been interested in converting the homes into professional offices.

The new zoning ordinance may allow the commission to zone a strip of homes "Office and Professional." The county would then require the owners to apply for use permits, which would give it control over what type of business moves into the house.

The row of professional offices would also provide a buffer from other houses in the neighborhood.

Tuesday's workshop was the second of two; the first was held on Nov. 10.

During the first meeting, the consultant talked to county officials about hiring a hearing officer to consider applications for variances, taking some of the burden off the Planning Commission and County Commission.

Commissioners backed away from the concept Tuesday, saying they felt a hearing officer would add another level of bureaucracy to the process and give the perception that back-room deals were being conducted.

No decisions were made Tuesday, partly because only three of the seven County Commissioners showed up at the afternoon workshop. A third workshop will likely be scheduled early next year.