Road expansion worries residents

Valerie Miller

Friday, July 30, 1999 | 10:36 a.m.

Fears that neighborhood streets may be turned into congested highways compelled dozens of Henderson residents to voice concerns at Thursday's meeting of the city Planning Commission.

As a result of the turnout, the Planning Commission postponed consideration of a street expansion plan until its Aug. 26 meeting so that city staff could first attend a neighborhood meeting.

Most of the residents were from the MacDonald Ranch communities of Sun City and Sun Ridge, close to Horizon Ridge Parkway and Eastern Avenue.

Part of the city's Master Streets and Highways plan calls for the expansion of Horizon Ridge Parkway from its current four lanes of traffic to six lanes and increasing its right-of-way from 100 feet to 120 feet between Eastern Avenue and Horizon Drive to accommodate future growth in the area.

Residents came out in full force to voice concerns that the road expansion would destroy their way of life.

"I'm concerned that what they are suggesting is putting a major highway right through residential areas," Sun City resident Al Stramaglia told the Commission. He added that the traffic problem is already bad on Horizon Ridge Parkway.

"I've seen huge semi trucks coming off High Mesa Road onto Horizon Ridge Parkway at 50 or 60 mph."

Other area residents also worried about traffic hazards posed by the proposed expansion.

"I do not believe you can have a 35 mph speed limit on a six-lane highway," resident A. Wesley Reese II said in referring to the current speed limit on Horizon Ridge Parkway. "It's dangerous now, and if you (the Planning Commission) make this a six-lane highway, we'll invite you to the funerals."

Many at the meeting were retirees who had moved into MacDonald Ranch's age-restricted Sun City community. There are approximately 1,700 homes currently in Sun City and close to 800 homes in Sun Ridge.

"If this (plan to expand Horizon Ridge Parkway) is passed, I would feel cheated by the city of Henderson out of the lifestyle I bought into," Sun City resident Arthur Dobbs said after the meeting. "I bought into a retirement community with residential streets, and not with a major highway running through it."

MacDonald Ranch developer Rich MacDonald seemed to agree with residents. He said the increase in the street size might destroy the unique design of the community.

"This would have a negative impact on the community," MacDonald said. "We want to keep the landscape, sidewalks and bike path the way it is, and I haven't seen a traffic study yet, either."

After the meeting, Planning Commission Vice-Chairman George Bochanis added that he felt compelled to postpone a decision on the item until residents' concerns could be eased.