NLV Council OKs senior complex

Lisa Snedeker

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999 | 11:49 a.m.

A number of senior citizens may someday call the neighborhood at the corner of Alexander Road and Allen Lane home.

The North Las Vegas City Council Wednesday in a 4-1 vote approved the Templeton Development Group's controversial proposal for a 472-unit senior apartment complex. Councilman William Robinson cast the lone vote of dissension.

"It's been a long, arduous journey," said Bob Quinn, vice president of development and construction for Templeton.

Quinn has spent the past year working with neighbors, the majority of whom are no longer opposed to the project, on a development agreement.

"I think we turned a tough situation into a win-win," he said.

For example, Templeton has agreed to move the gated-development's block wall 20 feet back in order to create a meandering path along Alexander complete with exercise stations.

The Carefree Village senior housing project originally was denied by the Planning Commission in August after about 200 residents protested the development.

While a number of residents spoke out Wednesday, most expressed their support for the project. Of the handful that said they remain opposed, increased traffic was their main concern.

Quinn, however, said the age-restricted project would be beneficial to the neighborhood because it would have no effect on area schools and generate less traffic than other residential developments.

The project, which resulted in a master plan amendment that will allow senior apartment complexes to be developed in low-density housing zones, has been bouncing back and forth between the Planning Commission and the City Council.

Don Schmeiser, director of development services, told the council that the Planning Commission had finally recommended approval of the project.

Last week, however, the Planning Commission deadlocked on whether to approve the development.

Commissioners Shari Buck, Tom Langford and Robert Eliason voted against the project, while Chris Montanez, Nelson Stone and commission Chairman Tom Lisiewski voted for approval. Commissioner Harry Shull was absent.

The tie amounted to a denial, according to the Planning Commission clerk.