Planners consider annexing 7,700 acres

Sito Negron

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003 | 9:41 a.m.

Las Vegas will take the first steps toward adding about 7,700 acres or about 12 square miles in the northwest when the Planning Commission considers the proposed annexation Thursday.

The entire size of the city when it incorporated in 1911 was 19 square miles. It annexed its first extra square mile of land in 1956, according to the city history on its website.

The city currently encompasses more than 117 square miles, which isn't even half of the urbanized areas in the Las Vegas Valley. The cities of North Las Vegas and Henderson both are growing, as is development in unincorporated Clark County, which includes the Strip.

Within Las Vegas' boundaries, growth is possible to the west, around Summerlin heading toward Red Rock, and to the northwest, toward the Kyle Canyon Road area. Land values are going nowhere but up, and the city covets land for new growth.

"We have to look at smart and reasonable and sustainable growth as we move into future years, with energy and water conservation foremost in our minds," said Ward 6 Councilman Michael Mack, who represents the area. "Part of the vibrancy of this valley has been having growth, not only sporadic but smart, well-planned growth in master-planned communities.

"Since I've lived here we've had anywhere from 5,000 to 7,000 people a month come in, and 2,000 to 3,000 people move out. We have to have places for these people to live."

City Manager Doug Selby said it will be years before the land, which is still in federal hands, will be developed.

"This land is subject to additional limitations before it can be sold," Selby said. For example, he said, "air quality plans must be amended, the multi-species habitat conservation plan has to be amended.

"So all we're doing at this point is saying it's within our umbrella," he said.

He likened it to the city claiming a right of first refusal when the land does come up for sale by the federal government.

"It's been the plan that the city would get that into corporate limits," Selby said. "That's one of the hurdles that allows us to start master planning; even though development is not imminent, we need to recognize the city will provide sewer services and the infrastructure out there.

"We're talking about years."

The Planning Commission meets at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Council Chambers at City Hall. For information, call 229-6301 or check the agenda online at lasvegasnevada.gov.