Henderson: Calico Ridge development debated

Valerie Miller

Friday, July 16, 1999 | 11:38 a.m.

An overflow crowd filled the Henderson City Hall as the Planning Commission reviewed recommendations Thursday night for the future of the Lake Mead area.

The majority of the residents attending the meeting said they would be directly affected by suggestions made in the plan for development on the city's northeast side.

The study was done over a 9-month period by Henderson's Citizens Advisory Committee -- a volunteer panel -- at the request of the city.

It includes a plan to align Sunset Road to come within 60 feet of some Calico Ridge homes. The study also suggests guidelines for industrial and commercial development in Calico Ridge along with the rezoning of a 600-foot strip along Lake Mead north of Athen Avenue to allow for mixed commercial and residential uses, according to Bob Wilson, a planner with the city's Community Development Department.

The Lake Mead Corridor Plan includes about 1,470 acres located along East Lake Mead Drive between Ivy Street and the eastern Henderson city limits in the Calico Ridge, Foothills and Valley View areas.

The plan also seeks to encourage economic development in the area in an attempt to increase the number of residents who work within the city, advisory committee Chairman Manny Gomez said.

"Henderson is the fastest-growing city in the nation, but only 12 percent of our residents work in the city," Gomez said, adding that he hopes the plan can increase that number eventually to 25 or 30 percent.

The study sparked a two-hour discussion between residents, industrial landowners and planners as the commission tried to satisfy all sides.

As in past advisory council meetings on the study, Calico Ridge residents dominated much of the discussion as they voiced their concerns over the proposed alignment of Sunset Road and the plan for industrial and commercial development in Calico Ridge.

"We are a community of custom homes and we don't feel the city is doing enough to protect us," resident Marsha Padalik said. "We don't need more lights, traffic and noise."

Residents are worried that the proposed alignment of Sunset Road would cause traffic congestion and disturb their quiet community by its proximity to some homes.

Commission Chairman JoAnn Huffaker agreed.

"The alignment should be closer to the Rhodes (Homes) property than to homes in Calico Ridge," she said, referring to the Rhodes' master-planned Palm City development across Lake Mead drive from Calico Ridge. "The existing homes in Calico Ridge should be our first priority."

Planning Commissioner Danny Sanders also recommended increasing the required buffer from commercial development to 75 feet while lowering the allowed building height to 25 feet or one story. The plan suggests a 50-foot buffer while allowing 35 feet in building height.

In making the recommendations, Sanders said he felt the plan's guidelines for commercial development in Calico Ridge should be consistent with what the city had already negotiated with the Eagle Rock industrial property.

Developers of Eagle Rock, which is near homes in Calico Ridge, agreed to 75-foot setbacks or buffers along with 28-foot maximum building heights in return for $500,000 in compensation from the city.

The recommendations made by the Planning Commission will be included when the Lake Mead study goes before the City Council on Aug. 3.

Most Calico Ridge residents seemed happy with the action taken by the commission Thursday.

"We're pleased," said Bob Reynolds, president of the Calico Ridge Owners Association. "We got a lot more than we thought we would."