Residents opposed to stables

Dan Kulin

Monday, Sept. 19, 2005 | 10:08 a.m.

A request to allow a corral and stables for up to 33 horses in northwest Las Vegas is riling some neighbors who fear the animals will bring a bad smell, dust and flies.

It's also putting City Councilman Steve Ross in the unusual position of being asked to protect a suburban community from an encroaching rural land use.

Typically, Ross and other elected officials are asked to protect and preserve the rural nature of communities in the face of rapid development of residential communities, an issue often seen in Ross' northwest city ward.

As Ross pointed out, the city council will also soon consider creating Rural Preservation Districts, which would give added protection from zoning changes to some rural areas.

But in this case, Ross is being asked to protect residents from new horses, instead of horse-owners asking for protection from new houses.

"This comes upon me as a challenge of blending the rural and urban," Ross said. "But it's unique to me because it's the opposite of the usual problem."

The City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to allow Nancy Estocado to build the corral and stables on nearly 5 acres on the northwest corner of La Madre Way and Leon Avenue, which is off Jones Boulevard north of Lone Mountain Road.

Ross wouldn't say how he would vote on the matter -- he said he wanted to hear everything said during the Wednesday meeting before making a final decision on the request. But his other comments indicated he probably supports the project.

Ross noted that there are two other properties close to Estocado's that have several horses, including one with commercial stables. He said he remains a supporter of maintaining the rural character of northwest Las Vegas.

"I'm all in favor of folks trying to keep the rural nature of these areas. And I am certainly not opposed to it," he said of Estocado's request. "But I represent everybody, including the Los Prados residents, so it's a challenge for as a councilman."

Estocado's proposal is being opposed by at least several neighbors in the Los Prados development, a gated community surrounding its own golf course where some homes back up to Leon Avenue across from Estocado's land.

Annemarie Pantuso, a 90-year-old Los Prados resident, said she's afraid the dust and hay that could come from Estocado's horses would trigger allergy attacks.

In a letter to city planners, Richard Bissett, 76, also a Los Prados resident, said, "Such as us thoroughly offends all the sense; it would be unsightly to the eyes, malodorous to the nose, an assault of animal sounds on the ear, and leave a nasty taste in the mouth."

Bissett also said he believes putting a commercial horse stables business so close to a residential development would be poor planning.

"It's just inappropriate," he said.