2 projects approved for vacant land near Sunset and Gibson

By Jeremy Twitchell

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 | midnight

Two vacant parcels near Sunset and Gibson roads moved closer to development Thursday when the Henderson Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval on two separate projects.

The first project, on seven acres on Sunset and Old Gibson Road, would have four buildings — two hotels, an office building and a restaurant.

The second project would be a sorting annex for the U.S. Postal Service, built on 10 acres on the northeast corner of Sunset and Gibson.

Since both projects would require zoning changes and alterations to the city's comprehensive plan, they require City Council approval before they can move ahead. The council is scheduled to hear both items Nov. 4.

The first item — the four buildings on Old Gibson — had one minor hurdle to clear. In order for two existing billboards to stay on site, the city would have to grant a waiver. The law that governs how far billboards must be from the freeway has changed since they were built in 1988, and the signs no longer comply.

Commissioners voted to allow the billboards to stay, but required that they be updated with light shields to ensure that their lights are directed only at the signs and are not spilling out onto the freeway, distracting drivers.

The second item — the postal annex — raised no major concerns. One neighboring business owner said it would be a welcome addition but asked the city to take a look at the property lines in the area. The way everything was built and the way it was recorded on the city's maps are not in agreement, he said.

Commissioner Dan Shaw said that property line disputes could not be a factor in land use decisions and that they would have to be worked out in the courts. He commended the Postal Service for sending a representative to the hearing.

"As a federal government entity, they're not even required to come in," Shaw said. "They can go ahead and build without our approval, so we appreciate them coming in and giving us the chance to get involved."

According to a city memo, the sorting annex will bring 250 jobs to Henderson, but the Postal Service plans to fill them by transferring workers from its overloaded sorting facilities near McCarran International Airport.

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or jeremy.twitchell@hbcpub.com.