Northwest development opposed

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001 | 10:59 a.m.

About three dozen residents who live near a proposed housing development in the northwest part of the Las Vegas Valley turned out to protest at a Clark County Commission meeting.

The residents oppose a proposal to put 140 homes on 59 acres on the south side of Lone Mountain and Fort Apache roads. They argued that the development would increase housing densities, particularly because a 100-foot-wide power utility easement cuts through the center of the would-be development, effectively eliminating some of the property for development.

Most of the commissioners sympathized with the homeowners from the area. They asked the developer to try to work out differences with the residents and return the proposal for review and action on Feb. 7.

Tom Skancke, representing developer Brossard Developer Services, told commissioners that there would be one house for every 14,600 square feet of land in the development.

Residents said the area, within a rural neighborhood preservation zone, mostly has homes on one-half to an acre of land -- about 20,000 square feet or above.

Commission Chairman Dario Hererra and Commissioner Chip Maxfield, who represents the area, both echoed concerns about the housing density in the proposed development.

The Lone Mountain Citizens Advisory Council and the city of Las Vegas, which would have to supply sewer services to the housing development, urged commissioners to deny the request.

The city and county have squared off in recent weeks over several development proposals for which the city would likely have to provide sewer services.

The Clark County planning staff, however, had recommended approval.