LOOKING IN ON: CITY HALL

Monday, Dec. 11, 2006 | 7:31 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council approved an ordinance last week that will help ensure residents are kept in the loop on amendments to the city's general plan that could affect them.

The measure, passed Dec. 6, requires applicants for a general plan amendment to conduct a neighborhood meeting and explain the proposed amendment to residents.

The ordinance requires that the meeting to inform residents take place before the Planning Commission conducts a general hearing on proposed zoning changes. The amendment, city officials say, will give residents potentially affected by a change a chance to respond before the Planning Commission acts.

Property owners within 750 feet of the area to which the amendment pertains, as well as owners of the 30 separately owned parcels nearest to the area, must be notified of the meeting at least 10 days in advance.

The ordinance also includes a provision specifying that the heads of neighborhood organizations in the affected area must be notified in advance of such meetings.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and other city officials were in New York City recently to meet with executives from some of the nation's top investment houses.

The goal was to persuade the companies to provide funding for developers with potential projects in the city.

"Some of these companies have been leery to invest in Las Vegas in the past, due to fluctuating market conditions and rising costs," Goodman said. "But after our presentation, they appeared to be on board."

City Manager Doug Selby, Office of Business Development Director Scott Adams and Redevelopment Manager Steve van Gorp accompanied Goodman on the trip.

The group also hoped to counter New York media outlets' reports that investors had become wary of Las Vegas projects. Recent stories have cited the slowdown of the single-family residential market and noted that some luxury condominium projects in Las Vegas had failed to start construction.

Selby said city leaders wanted to put local redevelopment efforts back on the radar of the people making decisions on which projects to fund.

The officials met with almost 100 investment bankers and focused on development opportunities in downtown Las Vegas and other areas.