Dispute over town center on way toward settlement

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998 | 2:13 a.m.

Las Vegas City Councilman Larry Brown says he will recommend a commercial and residential hub in northwest Las Vegas of 2,170 acres, the size sought by Clark County commissioners.

Brown's statements eased growing tension between the city and county. Commissioner Lance Malone, who earlier said he was "mad as hell" about city moves to make Town Center larger, welcomed Brown's presentation at a County Commission meeting.

Brown's position on Town Center, which he had not decided until Tuesday, conflicts with the recommendation city staff will make to the City Council on Sept. 14 when the land use plan comes to a vote.

Staff members say Town Center should be about 2,800 acres to accommodate the 300,000 or so people expected to live in the northwest by 2020.

Northwest Las Vegas is now mostly rural desert, and many residents in the area want as little commercial development as possible. Town Center would be a mix of houses, apartments, businesses, office buildings and open space. The concept is intended to concentrate high-density uses in one area rather than have them dispersed throughout neighborhoods.

Brown said it is impossible to know whether a 2,170-acre Town Center is large enough to accommodate the northwest. If it is not, commercial development could eventually be built along U.S. Highway 95 north toward Kyle Canyon, he said.