Council to consider controversial site

Greg Harman

Monday, Oct. 2, 2000 | 10:04 a.m.

The tiny undeveloped parcel intersected by power and water line easements isn't the sort of property developers fight over.

But its location on Horizon Ridge Parkway, fast becoming a commercial thoroughfare, has made the 2.2-acre lot the latest battleground for Henderson residents trying to slow the encroachment of businesses in their neighborhood.

Opposed by residents at a recent Planning Commission meeting, the project proposed for Horizon Ridge and Sandy Ridge Avenue is one of two controversial business sites that will be considered by Henderson City Council Tuesday night.

Henderson planners cite the small size and adjacent commercial properties in recommending Sara Hutchinson's plans to construct an office building be approved, even though the 2.2-acre lot does not meet the city's criteria for commercial zoning.

A second proposed commercial center coming before the council would include two retail/office buildings and a gas station on a 3.3-acre parcel at the southeast corner of Horizon Ridge Parkway and Coronado Center Drive.

The Planning Commission has recommended the council reject that application, saying that too many uses were being packed into too small an area.

The small size and neighboring commercial uses on Hutchinson's lot don't mean much to Barbara Hacsi.

"We are against all the commercial development going on," said Hacsi, a resident of Terra Bella Estates. "It's more noise. It's traffic, you know? Just commercial, commercial. Next to these homes it really is a big problem."

The Henderson City Council last year was considering widening Horizon Ridge Parkway to make room for six lanes of traffic until the resistance of residents became clear as meeting after meeting was packed with those objecting to studying the idea.

Now the increasing traffic and commercialization of the parkway is drawing complaints.

Residents speaking against the item at the Sept. 14 Planning Commission meeting argued that the increased traffic poses risks for children who daily cross Horizon Ridge Parkway to attend school.