Letter: Planning board shows disdain for the public

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002 | 8:59 a.m.

On the evening of Sept. 5, I witnessed and was on the receiving end of arrogance, sarcasm and rudeness by the Clark County Planning Commission, both individually and as part of a citizen group that expected to be able to participate in a democratic meeting.

I was one of more than 100 people who attended the commission meeting because the proposed Blue Diamond Hill housing development was an agenda item. It had been scheduled since before Aug. 1. Many of the people attending came directly from work; 55 people came to the meeting on a charter bus from Blue Diamond and Calico Basin.

After the meeting was called to order, it was announced that there was a request by the developer to hold the item. It was one of several items to be deferred. Evan Blythin, chairperson of the Red Rock Advisory Committee, spoke to the issue but was cut short. The committee voted on all of the "hold" items as a block. That was it. No discussion.

I believe that they did not act responsibly and I said so. People were not given an opportunity to address their concerns regarding the developer's request. The developer, however, received every courtesy. When people expressed their frustration, we were told, sarcastically, that we were "certainly setting a good example for our children." In fact, what children witnessed was an absence of democracy.

I understand that the decision to support the request for a "hold" was legally necessary. It could have been a win-win situation if they would have given some time to hear our concerns and then explained the legalities of the vote to us. It would have been respectful and acceptable.

PATRICIA VAN BETTEN