Concrete plant approved over protests

Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 | 9:40 a.m.

The Clark County Commission approved a controversial plant for manufacturing concrete Wednesday over the sharp objections of residents who live near the site off Blue Diamond Road.

The approval followed three hours of debate and unsuccessful efforts by Commissioner Mark James, who represents the area in Enterprise Township, to first reject the proposal, then delay action on the issue.

Residents who came armed with 500 petition signatures argued that the plant would contribute to air, water and noise pollution. Representatives of Ready Mix Inc., the Las Vegas company planning to build the batch plant, said the plant would have significantly less impact on the environment than other uses would.

Another company, Las Vegas Paving, already operates a gravel and sand mining operation less than a half-mile away, and towing, trucking and excavation companies, among other industrial uses, are scattered throughout the area, said Ready Mix attorney Jay Brown.

"The vast majority of neighbors have no problem with this project," Brown said.

Bob Morris, Ready Mix president, said his company would use high-tech equipment to eliminate nearly all pollution to the air and water.

Residents were not convinced.

"There is almost universal opposition to this," said Susan Ivy Allen, chairwoman of the Southwest Action Network, a community group of residents active on land-use issues in the southwest Las Vegas Valley. "This plant, we feel, would just degrade the whole area."

Boyd Steele, owner of a business park and warehouse next to the site, said he hopes to sell his property and fears that the batch plant will undermine his property values.

About two dozen residents from nearby Blue Diamond Road attended the meeting.

Commissioners Myrna Williams, Yvonne Atkinson Gates, Rory Reid and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the plant, but ultimately voted for the needed use permit to allow the project.

James and Commissioner Bruce Woodbury voted to stop the project.

County staff and the applicants noted that the plant will still have to meet Clark County rules for dust and other pollution. The approval also came with a number of requirements, including the paving of access roads and parking lots and ensuring full-time access to water for dust control.

Allen said although the residents lost the argument, they gained significant concessions from the commission.

"We have already improved our lot tremendously," Allen said. "We did not get a 100 percent victory. We at least slowed them down."

Morris said the $2.5 million batch plant, which mixes sand, gravel and cement to make concrete for commercial and residential construction throughout the region, will take at least six months to open.