Town Center’s plans advance in tentative fashion

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998 | 11:17 a.m.

The Town Center Land Use Plan for 200 acres in northwest Las Vegas hasn't even been officially approved yet, and already its authors are saying some changes may be in order.

And that has nearby residents worried.

Two bills that will go before the City Council on Nov. 9 would adopt the Town Center plan as part of the city's general plan and create standards for a Town Center zoning district.

But during a meeting of the committee recommending the bills to the City Council on Monday, the bills' sponsor said some changes may be needed in as few as 90 days.

Robert Schulman, who plans to develop 200 acres in the northwest quadrant of Town Center, asked the committee to hold off on the standards for 60 days until his design firm, Gensler Architecture, Design and Planning Worldwide of Santa Monica, Calif., could create a master plan for the 200 acres.

Carroll Varner, president of the Northwest Citizens Association, said his homeowner's group has been following the planning of Town Center since its inception in 1996, and thus far likes the way the plan prevents the sprawl of commercial and office projects into developing residential neighborhoods.

The Town Center Land Use Plan, approved by council in September, is for a high- density, mixed-use development incorporating retail, office and residential areas along with parks, schools and other public facilities.