Neighbors unify against proposed shopping center

Mathis Winkler

Friday, Nov. 16, 2001 | 9:46 a.m.

Just up the road from Michael Humphrey's home at the city's northern end, it's the desert that rules. At least for now.

Commerce Street, against the backdrop of Sheep Mountain, comes to a dead end here. But the street's six lanes already foreshadow its future role as a major artery into town from the planned Las Vegas Beltway.

Humphrey, one of the first people to move into The Parks community in February, was aware that the wilderness around him eventually would give way to development.

But just to the south of the community, at the intersection of Commerce Street and Centennial Parkway, Humphrey expected to see more homes rather than a shopping center, which is proposed.

Together with about 100 neighbors, Humphrey has been fighting -- most recently at last week's City Council meeting -- plans for a 160,000-square-foot center at that corner.

The land is zoned for homes under the city's comprehensive plan, which serves as a road map for future development. But for several months city officials have been reviewing the distribution of future commercial areas in the north and are thinking about adjusting the comprehensive plan.

Commercial areas are now largely restricted to a 700-acre parcel between Pecos Road and Lamb Boulevard just south of the future beltway and land around North Fifth Street and Centennial Parkway.

Planning commissioners, who have conducted several workshops on the issue, are likely to propose smaller, so-called neighborhood commercial centers at four major intersections along Centennial Parkway. Such centers usually include a supermarket and other businesses, such as dry cleaners, banks and beauty salons.

Though this proposal would cut by half the available land for commercial development to 348 acres, Humphrey and his neighbors say that's not the issue.

"We can have (development) to the north of us, but not between us and the school," said Suni Parks, who with Humphrey leads the community's homeowners association. "This is such a nice gated community,and we want to keep it that way."

Parks is referring to Fredric W. Watson Elementary School, which sits south of the site for the proposed shopping center on Commerce Street. Parks said she's concerned about children's safety as a result of increased traffic that would come with a shopping center.

Humphrey had similar feelings.

"The shopping carts and the people (a shopping center) will bring is probably the biggest thing on my mind," he said, adding that he has yet to find a neighbor who wants a shopping center at the site.

Mayor Michael Montandon sees things differently.

While a shopping mall, which attracts customers from other areas, and residential areas create more traffic, a neighborhood commercial center actually reduces traffic, he said.

Using the Phoenix suburb of Ahwatukee as an example, Montandon said that cities without neighborhood shopping centers face major traffic congestion problems. Originally praised as a poster child for master-planned communities, Ahwatukee has no shopping centers near residential areas, forcing people to drive long distances to shop.

What North Las Vegas needs is balanced growth, Montandon said.

While property taxes paid by homeowners cover only a fraction of the cost for municipal services, commercial areas generate additional tax revenue, he said.

That's a serious issue in a city that grows by about 1,000 new residents each month, Montandon said.

"We can't plan as fast as reality happens," he said, adding that he needs more information before he feels ready to decide on how commercial areas should be distributed.

But Humphrey said he doesn't share the mayor's view, and he is concerned that approval for one shopping center will lead to others nearby.

"My folks are adamant," he said. "We don't want the cancer to begin. I think we'll beat (the developers.)"

Council members have referred the project back to the planning commission for further review. Another 15-acre shopping center that's proposed for the opposite side of Commerce Street will be discussed by council members on Dec. 5.