Coyote Springs project wins round in Assembly

Erin Neff

Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | 11:22 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Influential developer Harvey Whittemore won another battle Monday in his efforts to build a 42,000-acre golf course and community 50 miles north of Las Vegas.

Assembly Bill 136, which passed with a 26-16 vote, creates a general improvement district on the land to preserve one or more species. It could also preserve Whittemore's uphill efforts for the water rights he needs to develop Coyote Springs, straddling the Clark and Lincoln county lines. The bill provides Whittemore with a way around more difficult environmental regulations that might otherwise be applied to the land and could have obstruted the development.

A statement read by Assemblyman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, when the bill was introduced, noted that "the Board of Commissioners of Lincoln County requested the bill. According to the testimony received, the purpose of the bill is to facilitate implementation of the multi-species habitat preservation plans required under federal law in connection with land developed in certain portions of the county."

But Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce, D-Las Vegas, opposed the bill, saying she did not believe it was brought on behalf of the Lincoln County Commission and she challenged the purported intent of the bill.

Without naming Whittemore, she said the measure would help the developer of Coyote Springs, which she dubbed "bad urban planning that will take substantial infrastructure" to build.

Environmentalists have also complained the development would take habitat space from the endangered desert tortoise and could impact the habitats of other species.

Pierce also referred to comments by John Hiatt, chairman of the Red Rock Audubon Society, who has said development of the golf course community would dry up the Muddy River.

Whittemore's plan to build 50,000 homes would require 16,000 acre-feet of water. He has already acquired 6,100 acre-feet, but has been battling the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the state engineer to acquire more. An acre-foot of water is the amount a family of four uses in a year.

Whittemore has said recently that he will begin construction of the first 2,000 homes within the next 12 to 18 months.

Assemblyman Rod Sherer, R-Pahrump, rose after Pierce spoke, saying he supported AB136 as a representative of Lincoln County, 98 percent of which is owned by the federal government.

"This is a way to improve things on the other two percent," Sherer said.

Pierce warned that the measure would hasten development of a project that few know much about. Those joining Pierce in opposition were: Sharron Angle, R-Reno; Morse Arberry Jr., D-Las Vegas; Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas; David Brown, R-Henderson; Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas; John Carpenter, R-Elko; Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas; Don Gustavson, R-Sun Valley; William Horne, D-Las Vegas; Ron Knecht, R-Carson City; and Ellen Koivisto, D-Las Vegas; Sheila Leslie, D-Reno; Garn Mabey, R-Las Vegas; Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas; and Bob McCleary, D-North Las Vegas.

The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.