Henderson news briefs for June 15, 2001

Friday, June 15, 2001 | 10:49 a.m.

Development requests made

Developer Rich MacDonald has about 30 days to complete a traffic study and draft more detailed plans of apartment housing before the Henderson Planning Commission will consider less stringent zoning for his 632-acre master-planned community in the foothills of the McCullough Range.

The Planning Commission also requested that MacDonald meet with neighbors downhill of the proposed project in the age-restricted community of Sun City MacDonald Ranch.

Nearly 200 Sun City senior citizens showed up at the public hearing to request a less intense development with more buffers. They also wanted assurances that the proposed development, the Canyons at MacDonald Ranch, won't push their flood control systems beyond capacity.

MacDonald resisted the suggestions of the commission. He said it was unusual for the commission to request a traffic study before granting zoning changes. He also said the proposed 100-foot buffer was not required by code and should be sufficient.

The Planning Commission will review amended plans July 12.

Planners to meet with nearby residents

Proponents of a proposed plastics plant in a light industrial park will meet with neighbors for a second time before the Henderson Planning Commission considers permits that would allow Texas-based Poly-West Manufacturing to build 32 75-foot high silos.

The maximum building height in the district in southeast Henderson is 50 feet.

Residents of nearby Mission Hills, some of whom live less than 250 feet from the proposed 380,000 square-foot plant, complained that the glossy white silos would be an eyesore, especially with the Nevada State College planned for acreage less than a half-mile away.

They also said increased truck and rail traffic would hurt their quality of life. The 24-hour operation would require deliveries from 75 box cars once a week. About 375 tractor-trailer trucks would make stops each month.

The Planning Commission requested that George Hall, a vice-president at Poly-West, consider increased buffering and reduced hours of operation.

"I guess I don't have much choice," Hall said. The commission set a new hearing for July 12.