Columnist Jeff German: County develops a good attitude

Friday, Dec. 5, 2003 | 6:05 a.m.

Jeff German's column appears Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in the Sun. Reach him at german@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4067.

WEEKEND EDITION Dec. 6 - 7, 2003

IT WASN'T unprecedented, but we witnessed an unusual occurrence last week at the Clark County Government Center.

We saw one of the most influential companies in Southern Nevada, Station Casinos, appear before the County Commission with high-priced lawyers and lobbyists -- and not get what it wanted.

Following an emotional meeting packed with residents and environmentalists opposed to the company's expansive plans for Red Rock Station in Summerlin, the commission told Station Casinos to scale back the proposed megaresort and return in a month with a design more in keeping with the wishes of residents.

Station Casinos, backed by its Summerlin developer Howard Hughes Corp., sought a special permit last week to build a 300-foot (23-story) hotel tower and two companion 200-foot time share towers, all above the 100-foot height limit originally zoned for the property on West Charleston Boulevard near I-215.

The neighborhood gaming giant also wanted permission to build 1,500 hotel rooms, 500 more than originally zoned.

Angry residents insisted Red Rock Station should conform to the original size approved for the property. They showed up with disclosure forms they signed when they bought their homes in which Howard Hughes promised that any tower associated with a casino would not exceed 100 feet and that there would be no more than 1,000 rooms.

Station Casinos executives appeared shell-shocked after the seven-member commission refused to approve their requests, and the residents were quick to claim a small victory.

But the good news is that both sides committed to working out a deal to everyone's liking and plan to sit down with each other as early as this week.

I'm starting to believe (and some commissioners are, too) that what we saw at the County Commission last week -- a balancing of community and special interests -- will be occurring more frequently in future growth debates.

"I think it's a sign of things to come," Commissioner Rory Reid says. "I think it's a whole new day at the County Commission. This commission is more thoughtful, and it's more concerned about what neighbors think."

The new attitude has been taking shape since January, when Reid and Mark James, both lawyers, took office and joined Commissioners Chip Maxfield and Bruce Woodbury in creating a majority voting block that desires a more measured approach to growth.

Since the first of the year the commission has passed ordinances restricting the spread of billboards, and it has adopted sweeping measures aimed at making it more difficult for developers to seek changes in community master plans. It also blocked an effort by home builder Jim Rhodes to develop high-density housing on the outskirts of Red Rock Canyon.

I wouldn't lay down a bet on this being etched in stone, but there's a sense that developers no longer will have an easy time obtaining special treatment from the commission based solely on their political clout. They might have to start proving that what they're asking for will benefit the entire community, not just their pocketbooks.

"I felt if we rolled over and gave Station Casinos whatever it wanted, that would send a terrible signal to the community," one commissioner told me.

Others feel the same way.

The commissioners were concerned that, if they approved a 300-foot hotel tower at Red Rock Station, it would set a precedent and allow a half-dozen other casino projects planned along the western beltway to build that high.

No one was prepared to think about the social and environmental consequences of that decision.

So they told both sides to work out their differences and come back with a more reasonable design.

I like the new attitude on the County Commission. I hope it stays around for a while.

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