Eldorado homes on hold for now

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005 | 7:18 a.m.

Boulder City has won a reprieve in its ongoing battle to stop development adjacent to its border.

A Las Vegas developer has withdrawn plans to build homes in Eldorado Valley, provided Boulder City residents approve a land swap.

American West Homes dropped plans pending before the Clark County Planning Commission to build 34 homes on 320 acres in Eldorado Valley, west of Boulder City.

And while it had not submitted formal plans, the company proposed building 3,800 homes on 720 acres west of U.S. 95. Most of the homes would be low-cost housing geared toward teachers and nurses eligible for up to $50,000 in grants for down payments.

The housing proposal drew criticism from the Boulder City Council and residents who do not want high-density subdivisions adjacent to the western border. Among other concerns, they worry about additional traffic and obstructed views.

The company will not pursue either proposal for now, working instead with Boulder City on alternatives for a land swap, American West attorney Chris Kaempfer said.

The decision to withdraw the plans comes as the Clark County Commission is scheduled to vote Dec. 21 on extending a moratorium on zoning changes in Eldorado Valley through December 2006, according to Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, a Boulder City resident who has proposed the extension. The current moratorium, enacted in May, expires at the end of the year.

American West supports the moratorium extension, Kaempfer said.

"We withdrew our plans as evidence of our good intentions to work with Boulder City and try and resolve this matter short of having development in Eldorado Valley," Kaempfer said.

One of two alternatives is expected to go to Boulder City voters in November. One option would swap American West's 720 acres for an equal value of the 1,500 acres that Boulder City owns in Dutchman's Pass, which is out of view from the city and several miles west of Eldorado Valley.

Under the other option, Boulder City would swap Dutchman's Pass with the Bureau of Land Management, which would in turn swap undetermined sites in Clark County with American West. The BLM would retain Dutchman's Pass, which would remain part of the city limits and subject to growth restrictions.

"We are willing to wait until the vote," Kaempfer said. "If residents support the exchange, we will work with the city. If they vote against it, we are going to file an application for work-force housing."

The second option is likely to receive greater consideration, because of residents' opposition to development in Dutchman's Pass.

Boulder City Manager Vicki Mayes said the BLM opposes land exchanges, but there is a chance for trading for some pockets of federal land that have been used as dumping grounds near subdivisions. It is difficult for the BLM to manage those sites, she said.

But BLM spokeswoman Hillerie Patton said she is not aware of any discussions with Boulder City.

"Our policy is we don't do land exchanges," Patton said.

Woodbury credits American West for cooperating with the city and trying to find a solution rather than force the high-density project on the community.

He believes the three-way exchange stands the best chance of getting voter approval, but said he fears if residents reject that option, commissioners will allow the 3,800-home project to go forward in Eldorado Valley.

Brian Wargo can be reached at 259-4011 or at wargo@lasvegassun.com.