Residents comment on city’s future

Thursday, July 7, 2005 | 9:53 a.m.

Henderson residents don't want their city to become another Las Vegas.

At least 14 of them came to an open house Wednesday night ready to share ideas for an updated Henderson comprehensive plan with city officials. And they had some specific suggestions for the planners.

Residents said their concerns ranged from building enough schools to public transportation and quality of life.

The Development Department set broad themes for the plan, including balanced land use, quality development, integrated desert environment and connecting places throughout the city.

The Henderson City Counsel added arts and culture to the themes.

Jared Gerber of the city's Community Development Department said that formal hearings are expected on the draft plan in October, a final plan is expected in December and the Henderson City Counsel could consider the update in February.

Another open house is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway.

Gerber said the city is using themes instead of more specific goals to allow the public to add details before policy is written.

The U.S. Census Bureau in a report released in June ranks Henderson 11th fastest growing city with greater than 100,000 population for the period between July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004. Only North Las Vegas, Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Elk Grove, Calif., have faster percentage growth rates.

"It's an small town feeling in a big city," Gerber said of Henderson.

The Henderson comprehensive plan will focus on big ideas so the city can continue to be "a place to call home," Gerber said.

"We have a general idea for what we need, but we don't have a specific plan," said Stephanie Garcia-Vause, the long-range planning manager for the city's Community Development Department.

"We don't want to be another Las Vegas. We don't want to be a bedroom community for Las Vegas," Gerber said.

Those attending the hearing at the Black Mountain Community Recreation Center agreed.

Row upon row of tract homes present an unattractive sight to residents and visitors, Henderson resident J.P. Schock said.

"It's ugly," he said, urging more quality and spaciousness in home building.

"Not even lost animals can find home" because of the cookie-cutter development, Schock said.

He suggested including a garden at each home and using a material other than black asphalt to pave roads, which absorbs heat from the sun.

Gerber did not disagree.

All new homes cannot have grass in the front yard because of the ongoing drought, Gerber said, but attractive desert gardens are possible. That is why part of the comprehensive plan will include ways to preserve open desert spaces.

"There's even some trees growing in Henderson," he said.

By developing trails throughout the city, school children, who do not have enough sidewalks to walk to school, and those who enjoy walking for exercise can run errands without being forced to drive, Gerber said.

Patty Dominguez said that public transportation is very important for city planners to include in future development.

"I think more people would take a bus or other transportation if it was fast and frequent," Dominguez said.

Five-year Henderson resident Jennifer Speck moved to Southern Nevada from Aspen, Colo., and loves the current Henderson downtown area.

"It's so dingy and dirty, but it should be historical, it should be redeveloped," Speck said.

One Henderson developer was impressed with Henderson's approach to its comprehensive plan.

"This is wonderful to see the city take an active part," said Rick Magness, director of land development for Slade Development, a local company for three generations.

Magness called the planning effort community-minded.

Magness said the fact that the city had integrated arts and culture as core components in the plan signaled an important era for Henderson.

"It adds value to development," Magness said. The open house format also allows for plenty of feedback, he said.

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