Ordinance proposed to protect sensitive areas

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Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002 | 9:49 a.m.

The Clark County Commission on Wednesday directed staff to prepare a new law that could protect environmentally sensitive areas in the county.

The law, proposed by Commission Chairman Dario Herrera, would put development standards in buffer zones around prized natural places around the county, including the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, the Valley of Fire State Park, federal protected wilderness and other areas.

Herrera's proposal also could require a "supermajority" of two-thirds of the County Commission before large residential building projects could go forward. County attorney Rob Warhola, however, said that provision would probably require approval by the Nevada Legislature.

Herrera said his intent is not to stop all development, but to be careful allowing new projects to go into vulnerable areas. The recent controversy over a proposed 20,000-person residential development adjacent to Red Rock prompted the ordinance request, he said.