Death expected for county’s Wal-Mart law

Tuesday, June 6, 2000 | 11:16 a.m.

A controversial county law that restricted Wal-Marts and other "big box," mixed-retail businesses will likely be buried Wednesday by the Clark County Commission.

The commission, acting as the zoning board, is scheduled to repeal what is popularly called the Wal-Mart ordinance, substituting that rule with an ordinance that requires large stores to be at least 500-feet away from single family residences.

An amendment forwarded at the May 17 zoning meeting also would allow large stores with a 100-foot setback from the property line. Commissioner Erin Kenny, who introduced the original Wal-Mart ordinance and the replacement, said that provision is intended for situations when a store has extensive landscaping or buffering between the commercial property and residential properties.

Kenny's original substitute ordinance would have restricted big-box stores, over 115,000 square feet, to within a quarter-mile of highway entrance or exit ramps. She said she was forced to dilute the proposal in order to get the votes to pass it.

Repeal of the old Wal-Mart ordinance is almost a given. Following the ordinance's passage in October, Wal-Mart and allies -- including the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce -- backed a successful petition drive.

That petition, submitted last month, requires the commissioners to either repeal the old ordinance or put the ordinance up to a popular vote during the next general election.

Also on Wednesday's zoning agenda is a request for a zone change for 157 acres to allow a housing development near the Sunrise Landfill.