Editorial: Right path: New vote, new board

Friday, Dec. 13, 2002 | 8:59 a.m.

Over the past decade there have been many examples of why Clark County needs to reform the way it approves changes to the master plan. Perhaps the most blatant example came earlier this month, when the votes of two lame-duck county commissioners, together with two other commissioners, were enough to override objections from county staff, the Planning Commission, the school district and McCarran International Airport. Their votes authorized construction of 304 homes on 30 acres -- directly underneath planes departing from McCarran. This area on the county's master plan is designated for limited development -- certainly no homes -- because of the roar of airplanes right overhead.

The homes are approved for the district of Commissioner Bruce Woodbury. Although citing "overwhelming reasons" for denying the project, he cagily voted for it after realizing he was outnumbered. The board's procedure allows commissioners who vote for a project to call for a reconsideration, traditionally at a meeting a month hence. Also calling for reconsideration was lame-duck commissioner Erin Kenny, a forceful supporter of the development. Kenny asked for it to be heard earlier than normal, on Dec. 18, when she and Commissioner Dario Herrera, who voted with her, will still be on the board.

County Manager Thom Reilly made the right decision when he chose Woodbury's request over Kenny's. Woodbury asked for the reconsideration to be scheduled for next month, when two new commissioners will have been sworn in, replacing Kenny and Herrera. It's proper for the new board to be given the chance to decide this issue, which will have such long-term consequences.

The new board, with the airport-homes approval serving as an impetus, will also have the opportunity to reform the method for changing the master plan. Commissioner Chip Maxfield, who abstained from voting on the homes because the developer is a client of his engineering firm, and Yvonne Atkinson Gates, who missed the vote to attend a relative's funeral, have both recently called for reforms. And incoming Commissioner Rory Reid made master-plan reform a theme of his campaign. We hope the commission decides to kick off the new year by making master-plan reforms a top priority.