Moratorium extended on car dealers

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Aug. 16, 2001 | 11:02 a.m.

Members of the Las Vegas City Council Wednesday extended a moratorium on new car dealerships in the northwest area of the city until November.

After the June denial of an application for a dealership in the northwest on Rancho Drive, car deal John Staluppi Jr. filed ethic complaints and a lawsuit against two councilmen, alleging a conflict of interest and misuse of office.

The moratorium, which expired this month, was extended 90 days so city staff could continue working on an amendment to the city's zoning code that would only allow new car dealerships north of Cheyenne Avenue, inside Town Center.

Councilman Michael Mack led the vote to deny the Staluppi dealership in June, saying it went against the intent of Town Center, which groups all commercial uses into one area at Centennial Parkway and U.S. 95. The city, though, had not adopted a formal ordinance that forbid new car dealerships outside Town Center, in other commercial areas.

Mack's vote was later called into question when he disclosed that he had taken a $60,000 loan from rival car dealer Joseph Scala, who owns land inside Town Center that is proposed for an auto mall.

Mack and Councilman Larry Brown were scheduled to appear before the Las Vegas Ethics Commission today, on allegations of trying to broker a deal between Staluppi and Scala. The councilmen today also were scheduled to appear before a District Court judge on a charge of abusing their office.

City Attorney Brad Jerbic said the Planning Commission is scheduled Sept. 9 to consider an amendment to the zoning code that would only allow new car dealerships inside Town Center.

And an ordinance is being drafted that would require all new car dealerships to open inside Town Center, that they build on at least 50 acres, and include three other dealerships. The intent is to create an auto mall similar to the Henderson Auto Mall.

The moratorium will last until Nov. 1.