City, county officials discuss planning, annexation conflicts

Friday, Nov. 9, 2001 | 9:02 a.m.

Las Vegas and Clark County policy makers met Thursday in an effort to resolve issues blocking an agreement that would end planning and annexation conflicts for the Las Vegas Valley's fast-growing northwest.

Las Vegas Councilmen Larry Brown and Michael Mack met with county Commissioners Chip Maxfield and Bruce Woodbury. Their goal was to forge an agreement between Southern Nevada's two biggest governments that would pave the way for growth by the city and ease frequent zoning disputes between the government.

The Las Vegas City Council rejected one form of the agreement Wednesday. Clark County commissioners had rejected an earlier draft last month.

The elected policy members said Thursday that they believe an agreement acceptable to the majority of both boards is possible.

"I thought it was very positive," Mack said after the meeting, which also included city and county managers and planning staff. "We're going to continue these efforts. We're going to make sure we have an interlocal agreement."

The City Council rejected the agreement because it rolled back a new law that strengthened the city's ability to annex vacant land in the county's Lone Mountain area.

Mack said the discussion Thursday included ways to bolster the notification and public process around annexation, while the city would keep the right to annex property.

Woodbury suggested a compromise would be possible.

"We indicated that they should at least always require full notice, the right of protest and public hearings" for any annexation, Woodbury said. "Then in the end, they would have to decide whether to go through with the annexation."