County delays tower project

Dan Kulin

Thursday, July 3, 2003 | 11:07 a.m.

A decision on a proposed timeshare/condominium high-rise that would be built next to the Showcase mall on the Strip was put on hold Wednesday when the Clark County Commission agreed to wait for the results of a traffic study before deciding whether to approve the project.

As proposed, the only entrance and exit for traffic to the 42-story, 492-unit tower would be on Las Vegas Boulevard, and some commissioners said they were concerned how that would affect the busy Strip.

The tower would be built by Makena Companies, which has offices in Henderson, and would be owned and operated by Westgate Restorts, which is based in Orlando, Fla., Makena President Barry Fieldman said. He said the tower will cost more than $200 million to build.

The commissioners voted 6-0 to postpone action on the project until Sept. 3. Commissioner Rory Reid abstained from the vote because the law firm he works for does work for MGM MIRAGE, which has actively opposed the project.

In addition to traffic concerns, some commissioners said that while the proposed building fits on the 2.5 acres it's planned for, they were concerned the large building would seem to overwhelm the lot.

"This is too massive a project for 2 1/2 acres," Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates said, adding that this development gives the commission the chance to set the standard for future building on the Strip.

Commissioner Chip Maxfield said that while he generally likes projects such as the one proposed, he agreed with Gates that the property seems too small for such a large building.

Maxfield also said that the relatively small size of the lot makes it more difficult to put additional entrances and exits for traffic on the property.

Commissioner Mark James said he was concerned about how the proposed tower would encroach upon the privacy of those staying in the MGM Grand hotel-casino's Mansion, a secluded luxury section of the hotel. MGM Grand is owned by MGM MIRAGE.

MGM officials oppose the project, but they did not mention James' concern on Wednesday.

Mark Russell, a vice president and general counsel for MGM MIRAGE, said the project is too large for the lot.

"It could set a dangerous precedent for the Strip," he said. Russell also said the project could be derailed by pending lawsuits, such as one to decide whether the new building could use an adjacent parking garage.

But developer attorney Christopher Kaempfer said the project is no larger than other Strip buildings the commission has approved.

Fieldman said he thinks the MGM opposes the project because it will be direct competition for up to six 40-story condominium towers MGM plans to build with Florida developer Turnberry Associates on MGM's theme park site.

But Russell said that's not the case.

"It's a matter of the size of the project on that size of a parcel," he said.

The commissioners on Wednesday also postponed action on an MGM proposal to build a 576-room condominium high-rise. Russell said the delay was needed to make sure all the plans for that project are in order.