County approves Summerlin expansion

Thursday, June 23, 2005 | 9:06 a.m.

The Clark County Commission on Wednesday gave prominent developer Howard Hughes Properties the go-ahead to add 963 acres to the master-planned Summerlin commnity.

The massive plans for the south side of Charleston Boulevard west of Hualapai Way are expected to add another 14,600 residences to the community, almost doubling the roughly 18,000 already spread out over more than 6,000 acres, county officials said.

Planners deliberately set a relatively smaller footprint for the next phase, which draws heavily on newly adopted mixed use designations meant to encourage denser residential and commercial development, land-use consultant Greg Borgel told the commission.

Once complete, planners expect 32,600 residences will sit in the Summerlin planning area, which includes the Summerlin North and much larger Summerlin South homeowners associations. The newest additions will include plans for privately funded fire stations and park space, which could be built within the project's first two years, he said.

"Summerlin believes in amenities," Borgel told the commission when asked what the developer would provide.

The plan was approved by the commission, which acted as the zoning board, 4-0 with little discussion. Commissioners Chip Maxfield, Bruce Woodbury and Chairman Rory Reid were absent.

No timetable had yet been spelled out for when the entire project could be complete, Borgel said.