Editorial: Legislature should help out Red Rock

Friday, March 21, 2003 | 9:16 a.m.

Last year there was an attempt to rezone land so that 8,400 homes could be built on Blue Diamond Hill, which overlooks the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. But significant public opposition developed because of legitimate concerns that high-density development would dramatically change the environmentally sensitive nature of the Red Rock area.

So the operators of the James Hardie Gypsum mine, who own the land and wanted it rezoned so they could sell it to a developer, gave up their effort. Even so, members of the Clark County Commission, worried that another plan to build thousands of homes in the area would be resurrected, planned to create more restrictive zoning that would block high-density development. But County Commissioner Mark James, who represents the Red Rock area, asked the county to delay passing the restrictions so that the gypsum mine company operators had more time for input into the new ordinance. Weeks have passed without any action.

We were encouraged, then, when state Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, sponsored legislation that would allow just one home for every two acres on the roughly 2,000 acres in question. In another positive sign, this week a majority of the Clark County Commission said it wouldn't object to Titus' bill. But James opposes the bill. He says it is an unnecessary intrusion into a local matter. James' opposition is oddly out of character for a man who previously has supported initiatives to better the Las Vegas Valley's quality of life.

Now that a majority of county commissioners are on board, despite James' opposition, the Nevada Legislature shouldn't waste any time passing legislation that offers more protection for the Red Rock Canyon area.