County Commission allows Orcutt to move forward with home project

Friday, May 5, 2006 | 7:38 a.m.

Despite concerns raised by a citizens advisory board, the Clark County Commission has given the go-ahead to a long-delayed construction project near the top of Mount Charleston.

Following months of legal wrangling, the construction of a half-dozen structures can go forward with county approval. In 2003 it gave permission to Barbara Orcutt, who owns the Mount Charleston Lodge, to build single-family homes a few hundred feet from the lodge at Kyle Canyon.

As construction began in 2005, however, neighbors complained that the project was being marketed as multiunit housing, and a real estate agent was selling subdivided units within the six "single-family homes." Orcutt's representatives referred to the project as a condominium.

In January the county threatened to revoke the special-use permits Orcutt needed for the project.

The mountain residents and county staff are concerned that adding too many homes could strain an environment already aggravated by visitor traffic, water and sewer issues. County staff also said letting the subdivision go forward would set a terrible precedent.

A redesign followed the county's threat. The Mount Charleston Town Advisory Board considered the redesign last week but still recommended revocation of the permits.

Town board members believed the modification could easily be reversed and the eventual owners could still use the property for other than a single-family dwelling, said Becky Grismanauskas, advisory board chairwoman.

"We gave her every opportunity to make the changes," she said.

Commissioner Chip Maxfield and county staff, however, said the changes and a binding agreement to use each structure as a single-family home allow the project to go forward.

"This gives us the ability to ensure that it is a single-family home, regardless of who buys it," Maxfield said. "I can understand people are frustrated, but I think the prudent thing to do is make sure it is single-family homes from now on."

Only Commissioner Tom Collins, who said he is concerned about similar efforts to subdivide properties in his district, voted against Orcutt's project.

Stephanie Allen, Orcutt's attorney, said the Kyle Canyon structures would not be sold as apartments.

"Barbara Orcutt understands 100 percent that it has to be a single-family home," Allen said. "The restriction will be recorded against the property."