Rules to save nature of Red Rock

Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001 | 10 a.m.

Blue Diamond Highway east of the small town of Blue Diamond has a new set of building and design standards intended to preserve the character of the "gateway to Red Rock Canyon."

Sparked by a controversy earlier this year over zoning for a planned bar and restaurant, the "overlay district" is the first of its kind in Clark County, county senior planner Dionicio Gordillo told Clark County commissioners during their regular zoning meeting Wednesday.

The commission voted 5-0 to enact the rules affecting commercial development in the 2,200-acre area. Among the rules: the architectural style must be Spanish Colonial or a similar variation, buildings must not exceed 35 feet in height, no freestanding signs are permitted and most lighting has to be off when the business is closed.

Nobody spoke against the new rules, which earlier had been endorsed by the Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council.

Environmentalists also had backed the rules, saying the road to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a popular day trip for valley residents, needed special protection from some kinds of commercial development.

"This is going to be such a nice beginning to something that we can duplicate in other areas," Commissioner Erin Kenny said. The move shows "we take our special places seriously."

Commissioner Chip Maxfield, who represents parts of the Spring Mountains north of Kenny's district, asked county planners to prepare a similar ordinance for the Lower Kyle Canyon area, which leads to Mount Charleston.

Conservationists also would like to see that area protected.

Staffers said they will prepare a draft ordinance within 30 days.