Contested federal building back to City Council

Stephen Curran

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005 | 9:22 a.m.

A federal office building that ignited a bitter dispute between a prominent developer and a group of Las Vegas residents is expected to come before the Las Vegas City Council for what could be final approval again on Wednesday.

The building, a one-story structure at the corner of Buffalo Drive and Del Rey Avenue expected to house local Social Security offices, was originally approved by the council in December 2003. But neighbors appealed the decision, and in November a District Court judge ordered the council vote on part of the project again because the project application was missing written permission from the then-landowner giving developer Irwin Molasky the authorization to apply for the land-use changes.

"The court said that issue bothered them because the application was not complete, so he sent it back to the council on that issue and that issue alone," Molasky attorney Chris Kaempfer said.

Kaempfer said he doesn't expect the council to go back on its approval of the project because no circumstances have changed. He said if the council votes against the project Wednesday, he would probably appeal either the judge's order or the council's decision.

Council members in December 2003 voted 4-3 to approve the rezoning for the office building, which is now under construction.

Councilmen Larry Brown, Michael Mack, Lawrence Weekly and then-Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald, voted to approve the project.

Supporters of the project said the site would become a "buffer" -- a relatively low-impact transition between a neighborhood and denser development, like a shopping center -- that could preclude a more commercial buildings from appearing adjacent to residential properties.

Councilwoman Janet Moncrief, in whose ward the building sits, vocally opposed the project and became visibly frustrated when the council approved it last year. She was joined in opposition by Ward 3 Councilman Gary Reese and Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Stan Parry, an attorney for the neighbors who appealed the council's approval of the project, said if the council votes differently on Wednesday, he may ask that what stands of the building be torn down.

"We sent a letter to the developer (Molasky) saying to build at their own risk" Parry said.

Moncrief faces a recall election on Jan. 25, and her opponents have said one of their concerns is Moncrief's apparent inability to stop unwanted development such as this project.

Moncrief has accused the council of "spot zoning" to fit the project in the neighborhood against residents' wishes.

Meanwhile at least one citizen criticized Goodman's opposition as coming too late to impact the project.

Ellis Glatt, a retired chemical engineer who lives on Castle Wall Street near the building, sent a letter to the mayor's office Friday praising Goodman's criticism of the project but blasting the mayor for failing to publicly state his concern until after the council vote.

"My issue is that Goodman didn't really step out in front and spend some of that political capital to stop it," Glatt told the Sun. "We feel the buck stops at his desk."

Goodman said he had no response to Glatt's comments.

Glatt said he carefully reviewed the city's master plan before buying his 4,200-square-foot house in May 2002. At the time, the land where the office sits was zoned residential, he said.

Instead, he said the building was "shoved down our throats" after he moved in by council members who represent other wards.

"My family was assured by the general plan that that lot would be residential," he said. "It just didn't make any sense. There are so many other areas of the city where this type of project would fit in much better."