Protests fail to thwart Henderson complex

Greg Harman

Wednesday, May 3, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

When dozens of angry homeowners filled the Henderson City Council chambers Tuesday night to protest the request of what they repeatedly characterized as a dishonest developer, the council members commiserated with them.

They agreed with them. They even apologized to them.

And then they voted against them -- approving Champion Homes' numerous zone change requests for its Champion Village development -- most notably to allow an apartment complex next to its single-family homes.

About 15 homeowners asked that the zone changes -- which are focused along the intersection of Lake Mead Drive and Stephanie Street -- not be granted.

"Champion Homes is not building the area in the way they told all of us they would," Alfred Stilts said. "Our contract said that this development was not to take place."

Stilts spoke of streets that have still not been turned over to the city and are not being maintained by Champion Homes. He reminded council members of undeveloped land reserved for a park and school that have yet to be built by the developer.

"Please don't grant this," he urged.

The developer was asking to absorb 20 acres of commercially zoned property while reducing by 6 acres its holdings of areas zoned for multi- and single-family homes.

Ron Jurico bought his home from Champion in December 1998, when the company's master plan held no hint of the proposed apartment complex to come.

"We bought into it. It looked good," Jurico said.

The Henderson Planning Commission heard the same item last month, reaching no decision on part of the request and recommending denial on part.

The potential for increased traffic, more school-age children and declining property values from the proposed 320-unit Horizon/Cielo Abierto apartments were the primary complaints aired at the meeting.

After apologizing for his "pitiful job" at the Henderson Planning Commission, where he predicted the zoning request would increase traffic through the area, John Marchiano, speaking for Champion Homes, changed his message.

A traffic analysis now suggests there will be "no traffic change" to the zoning request, Marchiano told the council.

He was supported in his assessment by a representative of the city's Public Works Department.

But as the discussion continued, one member of Marchiano's team said the proposed apartment complex represents as many as 3,200 cars per day either entering or exiting Horizon Ridge Parkway or Paseo Verde Parkway.

"Obviously Champion has some problems and Champion is trying to address those," Marchiano conceded. But he objected to a lengthy list of conditions tagged onto the zoning request by the Community Development Department.

At that, Councilman Jack Clark objected.

Clark reminded Marchiano that the company prompted the hearing and community concerns by changing its master plan.

"If I have to take a bite of it and these people have to take a bite out of it, I'm damn sure going to make sure your client has to take a bite of it," Clark said.

Although Mayor Jim Gibson expressed displeasure with Champion's performance, he said the city has few better choices.

He suggested that Champion Homes was perilously close to declaring bankruptcy -- an event that would leave the city and homeowners with large swaths of undeveloped land -- if the council did not support the zoning request.

"This is our only chance," Gibson said.

Member by member, the council voiced similar sentiments. Only Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers was silent. The request passed unanimously.

"I'm a man of my word," one resident told the council. "I only wish Champion Homes was."

Greg Harman covers Henderson and Boulder City for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-8814 or by e-mail at harman@lasvegassun.com