Flood channel still a thorn in Rhodes Ranch expansion

Thursday, June 22, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

Representatives for Rhodes Ranch won a qualified go-ahead for further development of their master-planned community in the southern Las Vegas Valley from Clark County commissioners at Wednesday's zoning board meeting.

Attorney Chris Kaempfer and land-use consultant Greg Borgel told commissioners that the project has had "substantial advances."

But the thorny issue of a moved flood channel, which received a qualified OK from commissioners in May, still prompted concern from the board. The commissioners sought additional assurances that all costs to move the channel -- a move that would allow Rhodes Ranch to build perhaps 30 more houses at the development at Warm Springs Road and Windmill Lane -- will be paid by Rhodes Ranch.

Under the timeline established in May, Rhodes Ranch has until early August to say how those costs will be repaid.

Kaempfer and Borgel said the new channel will be incorporated into a new golf course planned by developer Billy Walters on public land northeast of the Rhodes Ranch development.

But the fate of the new channel, the golf course and the method and amount of repayment are still in limbo, issues that concerned officials.

But Randall Walker, director of the county Aviation Department, said it could take until the end of the year before a lease for the golf course is finalized -- if ever. He expressed concern that the payments couldn't be set before the golf course issue is resolved.

"I see no commitment from anybody to pay for these costs," Walker said.

Kaempfer and Borgel said the move and the use of a grass-lined channel instead of a concrete channel will save the county money, so Rhodes Ranch shouldn't have to pay anything. But if there are costs, Rhodes Ranch will pay them, they said.

That didn't convince commissioners.

"I'm not comfortable going forward under these circumstances," said Commissioner Myrna Williams. "I think we have a fiduciary responsibility ... We have to know what we're doing."

Despite the concerns, commissioners didn't reject the report -- but voted to hear an updated report next month. By that time, some of the outstanding issues should be resolved, Rhodes representatives said.

In other land-use business, the Clark County Commission voted 6-1 to adopt a new uniform development code governing building construction, landscaping and other development in the county.

The new code replaces a hodge-podge of four chapters of county ordinances that have grown over the last 40 years.

The only dissenting vote was Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury, who objected to the inclusion of several amendments just before the vote.

The amendments would allow, with a special use permit, copy shops and other limited uses in commercial-professional zones.

The commissioners asked the county planning staff to come back to the commission in 90 days with a report on how well the new development rules are working.