Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003 | 9:17 a.m.
It's only 10 acres, but to neighbors, it represents a change in their community they'll have to live with as long as they own their homes.
Developer George Gegakis wants to build a 246-unit apartment complex on 10 acres in the area of Jones Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue, but requires rezoning from Las Vegas.
The issue will be addressed at Thursday's meeting of the city's Planning Commission.
"In some areas it's hard for people to see a change, and this is what is happening," said Gegakis, whose property is zoned rural density, allowing only 3 1/2 units per acre. He is seeking a rezoning, to medium-density residential, which would allow his proposed apartment complex.
He is also proposing that only people 55 and older be allowed to live at the complex and he points out that would mean less traffic and less noise.
But even the age restriction is being questioned by some neighbors, such as Velma Munz, who said more than 400 neighbors have signed a petition opposing the project.
"There are plenty of ways to get around that down the line," she said. Gegakis could request a waiver -- something he said he would not do -- "and if he could slide it in without anybody noticing he can get (the zoning) changed to anything goes," Munz said.
She wants the land to be used for single-family homes, and is willing to accept up to six an acre, something Gegakis said just doesn't make financial sense.
"I am in business like anyone else and we all watch our bottom line," Gegakis said.
It's the third time around for his proposal, and the second time it's reached the Planning Commission. Gegakis first proposed the apartments at three stories, but then withdrew the application in the spring. He also suggested building 10 homes per acre, before filing the latest application for the two-story, 246-unit seniors-only apartment complex.
The land is in an area designated for low-density development, but is geographically in a developed portion of the city. As land prices rise across the valley, and as local governments, particularly Las Vegas, push for development in areas that already have such municipal services as sewer and water lines, previous plans more and more come under scrutiny.
That means homeowners get caught in a squeeze, as the community around them changes and previous plans are modified.
"Here we are with designation of rural preservation neighborhood," Munz said. "Is that just a waste of time, a toothless bill that meant nothing?"
She said her councilman, Ward 5 representative Lawrence Weekly, has "told the developer if he didn't have majority of people on the perimeter (in favor of it) it would be a no-go, and he's pretty much stuck to his guns. He seems like he's at least willing to listen."
Weekly said he's just "listening to both sides."
He said he sympathizes with the residents, but doesn't think it will be possible for the area to remain rural.
"Everybody's not going to be happy with it, but (the latest proposal) is definitely going to be something that's the best possible use," he said. It won't cause any depreciation in property values, he said, a key issue for the neighbors.
As for the expansion of the city, said Weekly, "at one point it was very exciting, but now it's extremely frustrating, trying to keep up with it. What do we do, put up lines and say 'Folks, you're not welcome.' Is that realistic? We're all being impacted by it. Look at the traffic. You can't get from point A to point B in five minutes. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to get anywhere."
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