Henderson council briefs for July 12, 2000

Wednesday, July 12, 2000 | 10:47 a.m.

Action postponed on developer's plan

An appeal to the Henderson City Council for a major shopping center near the intersection of Lake Mead Drive and Pecos Road was postponed until next month, to the agitation of dozens of potentially affected residents.

Mayor Jim Gibson said he recommended the delay, suggesting to the developer that significant work needed to be done by applicants Seaynoah and Helen Mayfield before any action could be taken on the item.

The proposal -- which includes numerous service stations, restaurants and at least one tavern -- was rejected by the Henderson Planning Commission in May.

"It's too intense," complained Henderson resident Frank Dyer of the developer's plans. "Everything that he is offering in that shopping center is available to the residents within three city blocks."

Other residents expressed concern about tavern patrons driving through their neighborhoods.

The item will be picked up at the City Council's Aug. 1 meeting.

Library district has concerns

The public did not take the opportunity to comment on the proposed annexation of 5,500 acres of unincorporated Clark County lands in the southern Las Vegas Valley, but the county's library district did.

Daniel L. Walters, executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, confronted the council on its library plans for the area to be annexed, which includes a portion of Enterprise Township.

"The plan is not clear," Walters said. "I'm confused as to why another district was consulted for planning branches in our service area."

The city's land use plan for the acreage refers to Henderson Library District standards rather than the county's.

Assistant City Manager Bonnie Rinaldi said the city was unable to secure standards from the county library district, so it used those of the Henderson Library District instead. She assured Walters that Henderson has no plans to operate library services in the affected area, which lies within the county's field of service.

Independent board receives support

The Henderson City Council approved a resolution supporting a regional independent air quality agency among the cities of the Las Vegas Valley to grapple with the region's federal designation as a nonattainment area because of high levels of air pollution.

"I think this is something this valley better do or we're going to be in serious trouble," Mayor Jim Gibson said.

Councilman Andy Hafen expressed concern about creating another bureaucratic layer in local government and voiced resentment of the federal government's mandate.

Gibson agreed the situation represents a classic example of "do as I say, not as I do" on the part of the federal government but advocated facing up to local environmental challenges by taking such "extraordinary measures."

Bunker selected to replace Lamb

Mayor Jim Gibson appointed Edward Paul Bunker, a Henderson small-business owner, to the Planning Commission at Tuesday night's meeting of the City Council.

Bunker replaces Kenneth Lamb, who resigned last month. Bunker is expected to begin his service at Thursday's commission meeting.