Apex developers push for residential community

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, June 27, 2002 | 11:12 a.m.

Thirteen years ago fearful Southern Nevadans convinced lawmakers to designate 45 square miles of barren desert for high-risk factories after a Henderson rocket fuel plant exploded, rattling homes and killing two workers.

Now developers of the Apex Industrial Park intend to do the convincing.

They hope to persuade Clark County Commissioners to change the zoning designation at the struggling industrial park to accommodate a master planned community larger than Summerlin.

A slick public relations packet delivered to the media and county officials shows plans for North Hills, a 2,800-acre residential community with parks, trails, a golf course and amphitheater.

The proposal contradicts the purpose of Apex, which was created in 1989 in part to keep high-risk plants away from homes. The legislation was developed after an explosion ripped through Pacific Engineering & Production Co. of Nevada (PEPCON) in Henderson.

But the industrial park hardly has been the success government officials had hoped.

Its location, 13 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas, hasn't appeal to manufacturing companies who would rather their employees work closer to the factory, Apex officials said.

More significant obstacles have been increasingly stringent air quality restrictions and a lack of access to water.

In response to questions regarding the development, Apex's public relations firm, Brown and Partners, issued written statements.

"It was anticipated that Las Vegas would become home to many heavy industrial companies; however, that demand has never materialized," according to a prepared statement.

The public relations company further stated that developers have struck an agreement with the Las Vegas Valley Water District to provide services to the development. "As for water, the developers now have an agreement in place, which provides for water service to the property and does so regardless of the type of development," the statement says.

But according to water authority spokesman Vince Alberta, the only agreement that has been made with Apex is for 2,000 acre feet on the northern side of the mountain range. The district has no commitment to any development on the south where North Hills is planned.

"They would have to submit a water plan like anybody else and pay for the infrastructure up front," Alberta said. "If the water plan has merit and water is available for what they're proposing, it would certainly be considered."

Whether Apex will be successful depends on whether they can convince commissioners a mountain range separating homes from existing factories -- primarily chemical manufacturer Kerr-McGee -- will be sufficient protection.

The county must also determine whether the site's proximity to Nellis Air Force Base could pose threats.

Commissioners' decision on zoning could affect a somewhat lengthy list of highly influential Las Vegas businessmen.

Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, whose district includes Apex, said she was unaware of the investors at Apex.

"I haven't seen the names; I find it a little surprising," she said. "As far as I'm concerned, residential is appropriate and I will look at how they do it rather than who does it."

The commissioner is sympathetic toward the developers' struggles. She said in theory Apex was a good idea, but a combination of different government entities being involved in the project and the fact that air quality standards have been strengthened made it difficult for developers to succeed.

"I think the thought of moving (heavy industrial plants) out of town was a good idea; it wasn't a bad idea," Kincaid-Chauncey said. "But 10 years is a long time. If it was going to work, it would have started to work already."

Kincaid-Chauncey said the primary industrial uses in the park will be power plants, warehouses and light manufacturing, which are not uncommon near communities.

Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, who served on a blue-ribbon committee assembled to address residents' concerns after the PEPCON explosion, said he has mixed feelings about the project. Woodbury said he understands the developers' struggles but stands by the purpose of Apex.

"I have concerns about it," he said. "Many years ago I made strong statements that we would never allow residential at Apex or near Apex. I feel somewhat of a commitment to stand by that."

In March, Apex's real estate acquisition agreement was amended to allow discussions about building neighborhoods or potentially population-dense facilities like sports complexes.

Apex submitted a conceptual plan Friday and the county has 30 days to review the proposal.