Editorial: Red Rock’s gateway should be pristine

Friday, Aug. 16, 2002 | 6:04 a.m.

Last week developers unveiled their plans for 8,400 homes on 3,000 acres at the site of what is now a gypsum mine in the Blue Diamond area. The 80-year-old mine forms the gateway to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area as you drive north from Blue Diamond Road. About 130 people attended Wednesday's meeting of the Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council to say that a development of that magnitude is inappropriate given its proximity to the natural treasure that is Red Rock Canyon.

We add our voice to that chorus. It was a proud day 12 years ago when Red Rock Canyon was designated as a national conservation area. It's up to us now to ensure that visitors are overwhelmed by the area's natural beauty, not by the traffic encountered to get there. Blue Diamond, population 300, has in the past fought off plans for RV parks, shopping centers and condo clusters. Now, in their biggest challenge yet, they must persuade the county that their little community, a charming sight for tourists on their way to Red Rock, must not be so radically transformed. The Clark County Commission, when it comes time to vote on the development, should not need a whole lot of persuading to reject the project.