Bus tour gives NLV officials close look at city’s needs

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, June 1, 2000 | 10:17 a.m.

North Las Vegas planning commissioners and City Council members on Wednesday conducted a mobile meeting, which illustrated how far the city has come and how far it needs to go in establishing design guidelines.

Aboard a Citizens Area Transit bus, the group, including city staff, took a two-hour tour of the city to determine what needs to be done to make North Las Vegas look more appealing and uniform.

The joint meeting was the second in six months as part of a partnership brought about by Councilwoman Shari Buck, who as a former planning commissioner vowed shortly after winning a seat on the council that she would keep the two groups working together.

"The idea is that the commission and council be integrated so we're all on the same page," Tom Bell, director of development services, said.

The city has gone through a major overhaul in recent years to establish development standards and has been strict in granting variances.

But the past showed itself as an eyesore during the bus tour.

Driving down Cheyenne Avenue near Pecos Road, Bell pointed out one apartment complex built before the design standards were in place. It has inadequate parking, no landscaping, no outside railings and no open space.

On Commerce Street, Buck pointed out another eyesore.

"Look to your right and tell me what you can do about that," she said, pointing to broken slabs of concrete and trash littering an empty lot.

But farther along, at Ann Road and Camino Eldorado, were signs of a sparkling new Smith's grocery store and other shops that meet the city's codes in terms of setbacks and landscape.

"We are really making strides in the right direction, but it takes time," Planning Commissioner Harry Shull said. "There are still new developments coming out ... that will better reflect the type of environment we want for our community."

Planning Commissioner Anita Wood said the city must continue to follow through with enforcing design guidelines in order to improve the quality of life for residents.

After the bus trip, there was a consensus that the design standard for street widths may need to be adjusted.

During the tour, the CAT bus -- almost identical in width and length to a firetruck -- could barely maneuver in developments off Commerce Street and Lone Mountain Road because of narrow streets.

Deputy Fire Chief Jim Stubler said that problem could be deadly if a fire were to break out and there were cars parked along the street.

"The fire department has real concerns with people parking in no-parking zones," he said.

On the way out of the gated development, he added that the firetruck with a ladder would not have been able to clear it.

The council and commissioners promised to meet again to discuss the possibility of adopting new street standards.