Henderson: Proposed movie studio confounds Henderson planners

Valerie Miller

Friday, May 28, 1999 | 10:57 a.m.

Hollywood is still a long way from Henderson.

Thursday the Planning Commission voted to again postpone a decision on the troubled Black Mountain Studios.

The commission voted 7-0 for a third continuance, this one for 60 days, on the $200 million project after suggesting that the applicant, Studio Enterprises Inc., provides a conceptual plan for the entire 85-acre project.

The initial site would consist of two lots on 20 acres, with two 45-foot sound stages and support facilities on the southwest corner of Dawson Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks in the Mission Hills area.

Only 20 acres of the project were being considered by the commission. The remaining land, close to 65 acres, is in litigation between the city and the developer, who is suing to force the city to allow it to purchase the additional land originally earmarked for the studio. The uncertain future of the entire project caused concern among the commissioners.

"I don't know how this 20 acres fits into the overall project, so that makes it difficult for us," Commissioner Danny Sanders said. "I feel uncomfortable moving forward with this."

One point of concern for planners was whether the additional uses planned for the current stage -- retail that could include a printing shop, laundry services, and hair styling -- would be necessary for the 20-acre site if the studio fails in its lawsuit to acquire the rest of the property.

"These businesses may be very successful as stand-alone businesses, but would be dependent on outside business," Community Development Director Mary Kay Peck told the commission, adding that the uses were studied by planners as part of the original 85-acre project.

"What bothers me the most is that staff hasn't analyzed it as a 20-acre project," Commission Vice-Chairman George Bochanis commented.

The eventual size of the project would have little bearing on the current 20 acres, though, according to Paul Larsen, attorney for Studio Enterprises and its principal owner, producer Doris Keating.

"The project was originally designed in a progression of stages, so we would have to get approval on the first 20 acres before going forward with the rest of it anyway," Larsen told the commission, saying he would prefer a denial as opposed to another continuance.

After the meeting, Larsen said that he felt the latest postponement was retaliation by the city of Henderson for the lawsuit filed by the studio against in February to acquire the rest of the land.

"All the professional planning staff recommended approval of this project on its merits," he said. "This (decision) is pure retribution for us having the temerity to file a lawsuit against the city of Henderson."