Casino approval will test state law

Thursday, Jan. 20, 2000 | 10:19 a.m.

The Clark County Commission has approved an eight-story, 300-room hotel-casino near a southwest Las Vegas neighborhood, setting up a possible test of a state law restricting such projects.

Wednesday's vote was the first challenge of a 1997 state law designed to block proliferation of neighborhood casinos. The measure became law last year. Attorneys representing opponents of the project said they would appeal the commission's decision within 10 days.

The hotel-casino plan by Triple Five Nevada Development Co. was approved on a 3-1 vote despite strong protests by an overflow crowd of residents from the Spring Valley neighborhood. Supporters, some wearing T-shirts of local unions, lined the back wall of the commission chambers during the three-hour hearing.

Commissioner Lance Malone's change-of-heart provided the margin needed for the project.

"I have said very specifically that I could not support a neighborhood casino," Malone said moments before casting his "yes" vote.

He said he drove the area Monday and found the residential homes "aren't very close."

"All an elected official has sometimes is his word - and this time I'll have to back off my word," Malone said.

To obtain a zoning change that would allow for the hotel-casino, the measure had to obtain the support of three-fourths of those voting. Three of the seven commissioners abstained from voting.

Ron Madson, an attorney representing residents of the neighborhood, said the new Nevada law was intended to prevent the type of casino development that Triple Five was planning. He said the law was written to give people living closest to the project a voice in whether they wanted it built.

Mark Fiorentino, an attorney representing the developers, said the project does conform to the new state law. The developers cited sections of the law forbidding any casino within 500 feet of a residential area, and said the Triple Five project will be at least 1,500 feet away from any homes, churches or schools.

Fiorentino said the 22-acre hotel-casino is only a small part of the planned 140-acre commercial development that will include a bowling alley, theaters, an ice-skating rink and a retail complex.

Neighbors said they are looking forward to having shops and restaurants nearby, but don't want a casino in an area close to schools.