Gypsum firm rejects plan to block homes

Friday, Jan. 31, 2003 | 9:31 a.m.

James Hardie Gypsum is not interested in an offer from a national conservation organization that would block development on top of Blue Diamond Hill in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Cecelia Tripi, the company's attorney, said in an e-mail to the Sun on Thursday that James Hardie has ended "any communication" with The Conservation Fund, a national environmental group, on prospects to buy development rights on top of the hill.

Mike Ford, The Conservation Fund's Great Basin director, said in a meeting of the Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council on Wednesday that his group was trying to buy an easement that would permanently block development in the area.

A proposal to build as many as 8,400 homes on the hill last year generated widespread opposition. The developer, John Laing Homes, offered James Hardie $60 million, contingent upon receiving zoning approval for the project from the Clark County Commission.

But the developer withdrew its request for zoning approval after community protests and some commissioners said they would not support the request.

Tripi did not return phone calls Thursday evening, but said her company cut off communications with Ford and The Conservation Fund on Tuesday.

"Mike Ford and The Conservation Fund appear to (be) misrepresenting James Hardie's position to the Bureau of Land Management and to others..." Tripi wrote in her e-mail.

Ford said he was not aware that Tripi and James Hardie had rejected further talks on the issue.

"If they don't want to deal with me, they need to tell me," he said. "If they don't want to play ... that's entirely their call."

Evan Blythin, chairman of the Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council, said he was extremely disappointed by James Hardie's decision.

"It would seem to me that a company like James Hardie, if for no other reason than public relations, would at least entertain an offer," Blythin said.

"We live in an age of corporate irresponsibility. What this reflects is the general rapacious irresponsibility."