Magician leads neighbors to win over garbage facility

Friday, June 26, 1998 | 9:50 a.m.

Teller, the silent partner of famed duo Penn & Teller, was very vocal in opposing plans to put the station in the southwest Las Vegas neighborhood.

Garbage company officials finally withdrew their application this week in the wake of neighborhood protests.

"It's been an amazing experience for the neighborhood because none of us are in any way political," Teller said. "It's a real good example for Las Vegas that when there's a problem and your neighbors make themselves heard, it can really count."

Republic Silver State Disposal officials said they were withdrawing their county application for a $5 million transfer station in the area.

However, they said if the company can't build facilities in convenient and suitable locations, all customers could lose out in the long run.

Teller said he wants to speak with county officials to ensure "there won't be any changes to compromise" the area's zoning. The transfer station is mandated by Clark County.

A week ago, the Clark County Planning Commission was confronted by hundreds of angry residents. At the time Silver State officials, expecting fierce opposition, asked for a delay on the proposal to build a transfer station on 10 acres of land near state Route 160 and Rainbow Boulevard.

The transfer station would have served as a storehouse for trash up to eight hours before the garbage was then hauled to the Apex landfill, about 15 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Neighbors insisted the project would bring foul odors, an obstructed view of the Strip and noise. Silver State, which was seeking a zoning variance to allow the station, said the site was necessary to serve the growing area of the city.

It might have been the right geographic location for the trash company, Teller said, "but there's more than terrain and convenience of vehicles to be considered.

"This is not a dumpy neighborhood. It does have some of those quaint rusty cars here and there," he said, adding that neighbors are beginning to pitch in to clean up the area.