LOOKING IN ON: SUBURBS

Tuesday, May 8, 2007 | 7:39 a.m.

The nation's second-fastest growing city is still using some zoning laws established in the 1960s, when North Las Vegas had 20,000 residents and was largely rural.

With more than 200,000 people living in the city today and development sprouting everywhere, the city will be spending more than a year rewriting its zoning ordinance.

Being outdated is only one of the problems with the current ordinance. Several sections, for example, offer conflicting standards for design and landscaping.

The city is using a focus group of council members, planning commissioners, staffers, residents and developers to work out some of the kinks of a new code. The first draft is scheduled for review in late 2008.

Mayor Mike Montandon noted that North Las Vegas' fast growth makes it an ideal place to try innovative zoning.

"We can make a change in our zoning code in January and by March we're processing applications," he said. "By July it's under construction. It's literally a laboratory. It's like 'SimCity.' " (SimCity is a computer game in which the objective is to design and build a city.)

The city has hired Clarion, a land-use consulting firm that last year worked on the city's master plan, to help draft the new code.

Volunteers with Boulder City charity Lend a Hand drove 38,650 miles last year to help the elderly and sick in the small city.

Most of those miles, in the volunteers' own vehicles, involved taking people to doctor appointments in Las Vegas, about 30 miles each way. By taxi, the ride to Las Vegas and back would cost about $120.

"It really shows what people who care about people will do," said Lori DeCreny, executive director.

For its effort, Lend a Hand received a Community Enrichment Award last month from the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada.

The Silver Nugget in North Las Vegas is getting a face-lift.

But the city is paying for it.

Last Wednesday the Redevelopment Agency voted to reimburse the casino up to $99,000 under the Commercial Facade Upgrade Program, which is designed to improve appearances across the city.

City staffers might be seeing a lot of the casino in the next few years. It's likely a new City Hall will be built next door.

Boulder City officials today will again discuss whether residents can drive their golf carts on city streets.

In January the city abruptly cracked down on the use of the slow-moving vehicles after complaints about off-road vehicles being used on streets. When police had to bust people using four-wheelers across the city, it also had to issue warnings to golf cart drivers.

Sheila Fava, 66, had been driving her cart on city streets for years. A depth perception problem keeps her from driving a car, so since she has been unable to use her golf cart, she has been stuck at home.

Someone will give her a ride to the meeting.

"I'll be there in the front row," Fava said. "It's taken away my independence. I can't just jump in the cart and go get my hair done or go to the grocery store."