LV council briefs for January 4, 2001

Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001 | 10:43 a.m.

Proposal would penalize stores

Grocery and retail stores will have to retrieve their own shopping carts under a proposal by City Councilman Michael McDonald.

The bill allows stores to retrieve their own carts or gives the city the option of retrieving carts and assessing the stores fees and penalties for the service.

A business impact statement accompanying the proposal estimates the recovery fee would be $7.50 per cart, with an estimated storage fee of $1 a day. The average retrieval cost per cart is estimated at $12.50.

The proposal carries a civil penalty of $50 per cart after the city has picked up more than three carts from a store in a six-month period.

Builders group opposes changes

Proposed changes to the city of Las Vegas subdivision and land development regulations ran into a snag Wednesday when representatives of the Southern Nevada Homebuilders Association said some of the amendments were unfair.

The council approved the overall regulations but agreed to renegotiate two of the rules at the request of the homebuilders association.

The two disputed sections deal with maintenance obligations for landscaping and other amenities in common areas.

Lot closed for City Hall expansion

Parking in downtown Las Vegas will be a lot harder today after the city closed a public lot on Stewart Avenue to prepare for an addition to City Hall.

Motorists are advised to park in a metered lot on Mesquite Avenue at Las Vegas Boulevard or in a metered lot on Fourth Street across from City Hall. A free trolley shuttle will provide transportation between city buildings downtown weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Plan to reduce visual blight

The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved changes to sign requirements for nonresidential developments.

The changes, sponsored by Councilman Larry Brown, encourage integration and centralization of signs on commercial lots to help reduce visual blight, clutter and obstructed views.

Any proposed gaming establishment, nonresidential development greater than 2.5 acres or commercial use abutting a residential district will now have to present a master sign plan to the Planning Commission.

County doesn't protest action

Without a peep of protest from Clark County, the city of Las Vegas on Wednesday annexed 661 acres of northwest land into its corporate boundaries.

The mostly undeveloped property is located west of Hualapai Way and north of Grand Teton Road.

The city proposed the annexation to bring the county property under city zoning control. The annexed land is expected to help define the western boundary of the northwest Town Center.

At its Jan. 17 meeting, the council will vote on a 620-acre annexation in the same general area.