County skeptical of northwest plan

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2001 | 10:23 a.m.

A controversial new annexation law being tested by Las Vegas was met Tuesday with heavy skepticism from Clark County commissioners, who are reluctant to surrender undeveloped land or authority over zoning.

The law allows a city to annex county territory that is undeveloped and unincorporated, as long as 75 percent of the land borders city.

Commissioner Chip Maxfield on Tuesday presented an interlocal agreement he authored with Las Vegas Councilman Larry Brown that delays annexation and protects rural county land from higher density zone changes.

An area in the northwest would remain in unincorporated Clark County, but Las Vegas would provide services such as sewer, water and fire. Eventually, the city would annex parcels.

The affected area is bordered by Puli Road, Decatur Boulevard, Cheyenne Avenue and Moccasin Road.

The County Commission voted unanimously to move forward with the interlocal agreement, but asked planning staff to look into other options, such as not entering the agreement or running a county sewer line to provide services to residents.

Commissioners also asked for a list of pros and cons related to the proposed agreement. Planners are scheduled to update the board Oct. 2.

Maxfield argued that because the state statute allows the city to annex the region anyway, the county should agree to protect certain areas and continue to keep some authority over zoning.

"I feel I'm a reasonable and conscientious individual," Maxfield said. "This has a lot of provisions that are legal, doable and prudent."

But the compromise didn't appease all board members.

Commissioner Erin Kenny, already at odds with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman over homeless issues, questioned why the city would be willing to provide services yet keep the region under the county's jurisdiction.

"What is the city's motivation to open its generous arms to allow us to do this?" Kenny asked. "You have to ask why."

Kenny and Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates said they wondered why the city pushed for Assembly Bill 179 after reportedly telling county officials that it would not.

Atkinson Gates said the county made a deal with city leaders during the latest legislative session. The county agreed to support Las Vegas' effort to kill a Henderson-supported bill that would have taken money from the other municipalities if Las Vegas leaders promised not to push the annexation bill.

The agreement was made during a meeting involving Atkinson Gates, Kenny, City Manager Virginia Valentine, Goodman and Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald, Atkinson Gates said.

"We supported them with the Henderson bill; we upheld our end of the bargain," Atkinson Gates said. "That's why (Kenny) is so upset."

Atkinson Gates complimented Maxfield for his efforts but said an interlocal agreement is not law and can be severed anytime. She asked how protected residents in the northwest would be from unwanted zoning.

"It's the people it hurts, not so much the county," she said. "They're going to pay the higher taxes (if they are annexed), and they have no say whatsoever."

Brown said the city has no motivation other than to provide a land-use plan for the fast-growing area. The city has tried to work with the county on a regional plan, but progress has been slow.

Property owners had to approve any annexations before the law, and few were willing.

"I think the state looked at the northwest area and said, 'You guys have been working on this for a couple of years, what's wrong?' " Brown said. "We brought our frustrations to them."

Brown said the legislative action forces the county and city to enter into an agreement, or the city can move ahead with annexations. The bill gives the city room to grow and will help create a more consistent plan.

"There is no hidden agenda no matter what some may feel," Brown said. "On behalf of the City Council, our intent hasn't changed. It's to create a seamless master plan. It's not a county plan or a city plan, it's a northwest plan."