Panel denies plan for more housing

Valerie Miller

Friday, July 16, 1999 | 11:37 a.m.

A proposed development in a rural community was rejected, but a hotel project was approved Thursday by the Henderson Planning Commission.

Planners voted 5-0 to recommend denial of 108 residential lots on 25 acres after residents showed up in droves to protest.

The Summer Hills development would have been been located on the northeast corner of Newport Avenue and Magic Way in the Foothills area.

About 50 residents from the Foothills area said that Summer Hills, a development proposed by Pulte Homes, would disturb their quiet community and lead to an influx of other development.

Developers had requested a zoning change from the current rural residential zoning to higher density single-family zoning.

Residents said Summer Hills and developments like it would bring the very type of big city problems they moved to the area to avoid.

"We could have moved to Green Valley or Summerlin if we wanted urban sprawl, but we moved here because we like the semi-rural atmosphere," resident Steven Wood said. "Don't let Pulte steal our lifestyle."

The Commission echoed the concerns of residents about allowing increased-density development such as Summer Hills in Henderson's ever-dwindling rural communities.

"I think we should do what we can to protect these neighborhoods, because they're declining, and I really disagree with placing lot sizes of an average of 5,900 square feet so close to rural residential lots," Commission Vice-Chairman George Bochanis said to a loud burst of applause.

Pulte Homes can appeal the Planning Commission's recommendation before the City Council.

Another Project before planners Thursday, the proposed Gibson Plaza hotel-casino, faired a little better, managing a 4-2 vote for approval.

The Thomas and Mack Co. received the zoning change it requested for its proposed site on the northwest corner of Gibson and Sunset Roads in the Midway area.

The approval Thursday clears the way for the 210-room hotel with a 15,000-square-foot casino on 9.6 acres. The project is part of a larger 62-acre development.