Commission denies application for offices in northwest neighborhood

Thursday, March 8, 2001 | 11:07 a.m.

Clark County Commissioners have squelched a contentious proposal to put offices in a residential neighborhood of the Las Vegas Valley's northwest.

The issue pitted developer Brent Lovett, president of Matrix Construction Consulting, against residents of the area. Lovett wanted to build a 30,000-square-foot office complex at the corner of Alexander Road and Buffalo Drive.

Allied with hundreds of residents against the project were also the city of Las Vegas, the Lone Mountain Citizens Advisory Council, Clark County planning staff and the Clark County Planning Commission, which recommended denial in a Feb. 7 meeting.

Most of the nearby residents, among them Las Vegas City Councilman Larry Brown, live in the city. The 1.8-acre property is on a county island surrounded by Las Vegas.

Clark County Commissioner Chip Maxfield, who represents the area, said he does not think the property at Alexander and Buffalo will keep a residential zoning for long. But he wants something that will mesh better with the neighboring uses, which include a park and a church.

"The point is the character of the neighborhood," he said.

Commissioners voted 4-0 to deny the application.

The move brought praise from Linda Fionda, a member of the Alexander Road Association and the Northwest Citizens Association, two organizations concerned about land use issues in the area.

"We're absolutely delighted," she said. Maxfield "heard the residents."