Council will weigh Lone Mountain annexation

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1998 | 11:21 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council will vote early next year whether to annex Lone Mountain.

The council's recommending committee voted Monday to send an ordinance to the City Council that would annex 451.4 acres of county land into the city limits. The council is scheduled to vote on the annexation Jan. 11.

"It literally is the entire mountain," said Councilman Larry Brown, who sponsored the annexation bill. "It's a great opportunity today to preserve for tomorrow."

The proposed ordinance would annex land west of Hualapai Way, between Gilmore Avenue and Lone Mountain Road.

Brown said city zoning would allow for better control of development and maintain consistency with the density standards found in the neighboring city areas of Sun City and Summerlin.

The property owners, National Group #1, Limited Liability Co. requested the annexation.

When the planned beltway is completed, it will run through the area proposed for annexation. Brown said he expects the city to be flooded with development requests when the beltway is finished.

"We have talked with (Clark County) Commissioner (Lance) Malone and the developers and we think this will give us more ability to manage those requests," Brown said.

Malone said Monday he is happy to work with Brown and said the annexation would be a "wonderful opportunity" for additional parks.

The annexation does not include roughly 30 acres set aside for a county park, Brown said.

There are several mining claims on the mountain, which the city would have to purchase or take over when they expire, Brown said.

The county-owned park land was purchased for $800 -- the same price a Colorado milling company claimed it for back in 1962.

"They will have to buy back mining or milling claims, but it's a wonderful opportunity for the mountain," Malone said.

Brown said he would like to have a portion of the area designated for open space and park uses.