Limits on planning changes clear hurdle

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1998 | 10:46 a.m.

A Las Vegas City Council recommending committee has given its go ahead to a proposed ordinance that will limit to twice a year the number of times the general plan can be changed.

The semiannual reviews, which Mayor Jan Laverty Jones said could be moved from the regular City Council agenda to two special meetings, came as welcome news Tuesday to homeowners who practically every month have to go to Planning Commission and council meetings to protest various projects.

If passed by the full council at the Oct. 12 public meeting, the ordinance could prove to be a big loss for developers and homebuilders, especially those who don't like current designated land uses and take great efforts to convince city lawmakers to change them -- often against the wishes of homeowners in the area.

It also is believed that by limiting general plan changes to semiannual hearings, it will discourage developers from attempting to change the plan so often and instead come up with proposals that meet the land uses that were originally set by city planners.

Several homeowners at Tuesday's meeting said the general plan is an important document that they believe should not be subject to so many changes.

The Southern Nevada Homebuilders Association recommended that proposed general plan changes should be heard on a monthly basis.

The committee of Jones and Councilman Mike McDonald recommended passage of the semiannual general plan reviews.

In other action involving zoning and land issues that also will come up for full council vote on Oct. 12:

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