Rural preservation districts studied

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005 | 10 a.m.

Las Vegas planning officials will take about a month to study a proposal to create rural preservation districts, possibly leading to changes in an ordinance intended to serve as another layer of protection from unwanted development in certain neighborhoods.

The rural designation is slated to cover scattered patches of the city, primarily in the rapidly growing northwest, but also some older neighborhoods such as the upscale Scotch 80s and Rancho Circle developments that lost whatever rural feel they had long ago.

From 1999 to May 2004, those areas were considered to be within rural preservation districts thanks to a short-lived state law that established the guidelines for such districts, city Planning Manager Tom Perrigo said.

The city designation, as proposed, would not prohibit changes to zoning classifications for properties within those areas. But it would identify those neighborhoods as deserving of special attention and consideration if a zoning change is requested, Perrigo said.

Some have said the designation could help boost property values for homes within such a district.

Mayor Oscar Goodman and at least two City Council members, Lois Tarkanian and Steve Ross, own property within different areas identified as potential rural preservation districts.

Chief Deputy City Attorney Val Steed said they would be allowed to vote on the matter because the ordinance would affect "more than a single neighborhood."

Also, city planners have been identifying properties within those areas as deserving of special consideration since the now-expired state law went into effect more than five years ago.

About a dozen Las Vegas residents interested in the proposed rural preservation district ordinance attended a Tuesday meeting of the city's Recommending Committee, where the matter was discussed. In general, the residents support the creation of the special districts, but many had concerns or questions about the details of the proposed ordinance.

For example, some expressed concern over whether the neighborhoods in a rural preservation district would be allowed to have two or three homes per acre. The proposed ordinance would limit neighborhoods to two homes per acre.

Others said such an ordinance should establish stricter rules for what would be allowed in a buffer area around a rural preservation district.

Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, a North Las Vegas Democrat whose district includes part of Las Vegas, was behind the push for the city to create its own rural preservation districts. Kirkpatrick said she hopes the ordinance will help protect those neighborhoods that once were rural, but over the years have seen the city grow around them.

Kirkpatrick said the proposed ordinance would give homeowners fighting against a potential rezoning another legal argument.

"It would give them some added legal standing, a little added protection," she said, adding that she had hoped the matter would move quickly through approval process.

Henderson, North Las Vegas and Clark County all have their own versions of the ordinance.

Councilman Steve Wolfson, who with Tarkanian makes up the membership of the Recommending Committee, said the proposed ordinance needs to be studied further and called for a 30-day postponement of action on the matter.

Tarkanian agreed, and so the subject will return to the committee on Sept. 20.

"This is a very important matter," Tarkanian said. "It would give a guideline for development, but I don't know if it would stop all the rezoning in it."

Steed said the matter could go before the full council for a vote on Oct. 5.