Residents ask to drop call for new cell tower

J. Craig Anderson

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005 | 8:13 a.m.

To Carolyn Edwards and Dave Wrzesinski, the commercial center that stands behind their homes is a monument to government corruption, self-interest and greed.

That monument soon could be adorned with its own towering spire, if the Clark County Commission votes Dec. 21 to approve a cellular tower on the property, located at the northeast corner of Buffalo Drive and Desert Inn Road.

Edwards said if the proposed 73-foot cellular tower is allowed, it would add insult to injury.

"I don't see why we need to pay the price for what has been admitted as errors made," she said.

Two developers, father and son Don and Lawrence Davidson, were indicted last month in connection with the November 2001 approval of a CVS Pharmacy on the property.

Federal officials charge that the Davidsons conspired to pay then-Commissioner Erin Kenny $200,000 for her help in getting land-use approval for the pharmacy.

Edwards, who fought the zoning approval and several associated votes, has a back yard that now faces the CVS store.

The commercial center, which faces Buffalo, was approved despite the objections of nearby residents and Commissioner Chip Maxfield, who represents the area.

Approval of the cell tower, which would back up to Wrzesinski's yard, was on the County Commission's zoning and subdivision agenda Wednesday, but Maxfield recommended a two-week delay so the applicant could meet with residents to seek a compromise.

Wrzesinski said he is willing to discuss alternatives with Cortel LLC project manager John Wright, who selected the tower location for Cingular Wireless.

But Wrzesinski said he would rather avoid any structure that further advertises the ill-gotten commercial development's location.

"It's like a Stratosphere that pops up there, saying, 'Here it is,' " he said.

When the controversial development was approved, residents were promised it would be practically invisible because of extensive landscaping, Wrzesinski said.

"This is not invisible," he said of the proposed tower.

Wright said he did not know the property's history and simply chose the site because it is the best location for a needed communications tower.

"I understand the dilemma, and I understand their concern," he said. However, the options in that area are limited, he noted.

Wright said he will work with the neighbors to attempt to reach a solution.

Edwards said while neither the current County Commission nor the cellular phone company are to blame for reigniting residents' anger over the project, she hopes elected officials will deny the application because of the site's checkered past.

"We're appealing to your sense of fairness," she told the commissioners. "You do have the ability to take into account what has happened previously."

J. Craig Anderson can be reached at 259-2320 or at craig@lasvegassun.com.