Henderson news briefs for March 21, 2001

Wednesday, March 21, 2001 | 11:04 a.m.

City accepts developer's loan

A California-based developer will loan the Henderson Redevelopment Agency $3.1 million as part of a financing plan to begin flood control improvements at a gravel pit and concrete batch plant northwest of Interstate 215 and Stephanie Street.

As approved by the Henderson City Council Tuesday, Griffin Realty's loan, along with $1.8 million from the Regional Flood Control District, will allow the city to purchase two privately-owned lots totaling 45 acres in the Cornerstone Redevelopment Area.

The city will pay another $100,000 from right-of-way funds to complete the $5 million purchase.

The city plans to clean up the gravel pit and build a 100-acre water detention basin that would double as a lake and park. Plans also show 1.7 million square feet of office and retail space at the 320-acre site.

As property tax values increase on the retail projects planned by Griffin, the city will pay back its loan, according to the redevelopment agreement.

The city will also sign a $3.7 million loan to pay for two 48-foot wide culverts, one running from I-215 under Wigwam Parkway to the basin and the other running under Stephanie Street.

Law on public sleeping changed

When it comes to getting a good night's sleep, truck drivers will no longer be lumped in with panhandlers.

The Henderson City Council updated a year-old ordinance Tuesday to allow truck drivers to park on commercial property for up to 10 hours to receive "the rest they need in order to safely continue on their travels."

But homeless people, the target of the 2000 ordinance, will get no such reprieve.

The city last year outlawed any camping or sleeping outdoors between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8:30 a.m., except in a resident's yard out of view of the street or in the parking lot of a hospital while family relatives are receiving care.

Homeless people have been drinking alcohol during the day, urinating in parking lots and panhandling, according to city documents. Their campfires have caused "a few deaths," documents say.