Henderson news briefs

Friday, July 13, 2001 | 11:13 a.m.

Neighbors worried about crowds

After Arizona representatives for a planned Lutheran church agreed on Thursday to forgo a steeple, neighbors still worried about the flood of Sunday traffic the church would bring to their quiet Anthem neighborhood.

About a dozen residents spoke against the 5-acre project Thursday at the Henderson Planning Commission meeting. They complained about traffic and the inconvenience of potential Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Despite the objections, the Planning Commission approved a use permit for the church.

Zoning for a church at the intersection of Anthem Parkway and Reunion Drive has been in place since the city annexed 2,535 acres for the Anthem master-planned community in 1997, Commissioner Dan Shaw said.

"We've had less controversy over bars going into a neighborhood," Commissioner JoAnn Huffaker said.

Development put on hold again

The Henderson Planning Commission on Thursday put off for another 30 days any decision on a planned 632-acre master-planned community in the foothills south of Sun City MacDonald Ranch.

Last month the commission also voted to delay a decision for 30 days on the project, which would include 946 residential units and 26 acres of commercial development.

Commissioner Dan Shaw said he was reluctant to send the development to the City Council before the developer resolved traffic issues and planned interior roads. He also asked developer Richard MacDonald to resolve with the Parks and Recreation Department whether it wants the 387 acres of open space offered by MacDonald.

Many residents of nearby Sun City MacDonald Ranch asked that the commission approve a development with fewer homes. They said too many hills would have to be leveled to create building space for the number of homes requested.

Commissioner JoAnn Huffaker agreed. "I'm scared because I love the hills," she said. "They're beautiful. They're what makes Henderson Henderson."