NLV residents, city council haunted by past deal

By Mike Trask (contact)

Friday, March 14, 2008 | 2 a.m.

The North Las Vegas residents attending a neighborhood meeting Monday about 320 apartments proposed for Centennial Parkway and Revere Street wanted answers.

But they didn’t like the ones they got from Pardee Homes representatives.

Why is Pardee selling the parcel in the Eldorado development to a group wanting to build a 36-acre apartment complex? Because it can.

What if the City Council attempts to block the construction of apartments? The developer will sue.

North Las Vegas made an agreement 20 years ago to allow the parcel to be used for businesses, homes or apartments in an effort to entice development. At the time there was only desert in the area. Today it serves as the middle-class heart of the city.

Residents are concerned that the planned apartments would lower their community’s quality of life.

“I understand the main concern is that I’m even talking to you,” said Jennifer Lazovich, an attorney for Pardee and Wood Partners, the apartment builder.

Councilwoman Shari Buck said the developer has agreed to slightly lower density. Nevertheless, she’s not happy about the project.

“If they were coming in today and asking to put apartments on this corner, it’s not an appropriate corner for apartments,” Buck said.

But it seems there’s nothing she — or anyone else — can do about it.

The council will make the final call April 2.

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North Las Vegas residents have similar concerns about an apartment complex planned three miles west on Centennial at Valley Drive.

However, they have a better chance of winning a fight against that development. The project would require council approval for a zoning change allowing higher-density housing. Previously, zoning of the area was changed to allow more than 400 condominiums. Now developers want to build about 600 apartments.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, who represents the neighborhood, said she will oppose the change.

The City Council is also scheduled to vote on the zoning change April 2, a night that promises to be interesting.

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Boulder City wanted to get a clear picture of the town’s finances and to clear up persistent criticism of its spending.

So far, though, the only thing that is clear is that plenty remains unclear.

The City Council appointed a five-member Finance Advisory Committee to examine the books prior to the establishment of the 2009 budget. Each member had to have a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting or business.

It hasn’t worked out as well as some expected.

Last week, the committee’s chairman resigned, saying numbers the city Finance Department had provided the committee were unclear. His concerns are about how much money the city transfers from the utility fund — Boulder City operates its own utilities — to the general fund.

Former Chairman Ronald Milne, a retired UNLV accounting professor, said it’s unknown how much departments actually need to take from the utility fund or whether utility profits are being used to offset department spending.

“They presented these numbers and I think it is clear they are not correct,” Milne said this week. He noted that the Finance Department has tied 65 percent of its planned fiscal 2009 budget to the utility fund.

Finance Director Timothy Inch did not return calls.

Mayor Roger Tobler said he expects the figures to change as the committee continues its review of city finances.

“I think the goal is still there,” he said. “I can understand (Milne’s) concern. I don’t have the same degree of concern.”