Riders mount opposition to proposed development

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003 | 10:19 a.m.

About 30 angry residents met with Henderson planning officials and a developer Wednesday night to try to stop a new housing development that they said could impede their ability to roam around the area on horseback.

Avante Homes plans to build 110 single-family homes on 30 acres in the near Venice Avenue and Milan Street. Groundbreaking for the project could come in the spring of 2004.

Indigo Run, the proposed subdivision, would allow three homes on each acre near rural preservation areas, where each home has at least an acre.

Avante representative Frank Ksiazek said that the Henderson Planning Commission had asked the developer to meet with the residents before Indigo Run comes before the commission at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Henderson City Hall.

"The site has power lines, a power substation and an elementary school site," Ksiazek said, noting that the developer is willing to provide a horse trail across the northern section of the area along the power line easement.

"We're not building condominiums, we're building single-family homes," Ksiazek said.

The homes would be within a gated community and sell for $200,000 to $350,000 each.

"Why does the developer have to build castles on a postage stamp?" Vincent Danisi asked at the meeting.

Avante could build bigger, more expensive homes on lots with more room, and still make money, he said.

"The bottom line is, how do we stop this project?" asked Sherrie Wallace, who moved to a rural area of Henderson six years ago from Orange County, Calif.

Other residents of the rural area said they are worried about increasing traffic, flash flooding and water supplies with new development.

"Obviously, this is going to increase traffic," Nancy Shay said. "Newport (Drive) is a racetrack already. You get a soda, sit out on your porch and watch them go by at 80 mph."

Horse owners said they want to protect the rest of the area, including a swath of Bureau of Land Management land running east of their homes and the new development, as a rural preservation area. The city of Henderson has invested $3.5 million into an equestrian park south and east of the Avante project.

"Save Henderson for people who want to live there with their horses," Lisa Riley said.

She said she believes new homeowners should have to sign a disclosure form so they won't complain about equine odor at a later date.

Dena Howell, principal planner for Henderson, said that the residents and property owners need to petition the City Council for a rural preservation area.

Tracy Foutz, Henderson's planning manager, said he sympathized with the residents. He owns a rural lot west of the proposed development.

"I had no influence on the plan for the development," Foutz said. "The future of my property is uncertain."

However, Foutz said after the meeting that as a professional planner he believes he is dealing fairly with both developer and homeowners.

"That's my job," he said.

The issue is also expected to come up at the Oct. 21 Henderson City Council meeting.

The City Council has the final say on the development.