Annexation adds another 5,500 acres to Henderson city limits

Greg Harman

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000 | 11:02 a.m.

Henderson's western fringe expanded by almost 5,500 acres Tuesday night as the City Council gave final approval to the city's largest land acquisition in 29 years.

The item passed unanimously late in the meeting with little comment.

City officials sought the annexation of 5,473 acres -- or about 8.5 square miles -- of unincorporated Clark County and U.S. Bureau of Land Management land to create a "western gateway" to the city.

A plan developed by Henderson and Clark County commits the majority of the land to low-density residential use, with pockets of high-density residential and commercial lots. A small parcel abutting the Henderson Executive Airport has been proposed as an industrial park.

The initial annexation proposal drew cries from residents of Enterprise Township, inspiring the city to whittle 800 acres from that area out of the plan.

The only angry voice raised at a recent public hearing on the matter came from the Clark County Library District, which noted that Henderson Library District standards had been used to describe services that would be provided to new residents in the county's zone.

The addition of the land south of Lake Mead Drive and west of Henderson's limits is the city's largest annexation since 1971, when the city annexed an 8-mile stretch that is now eastern Henderson.

With a number of master-planned communities on Henderson's western boundary looking for room to expand, the BLM has fallen under increasing pressure to sell off parcels in the newly annexed area.

Mayor Jim Gibson said he wanted to ensure that the area is subject to Henderson's strict development standards when it is auctioned.