To neighbors of a proposed housing development, last week’s County Commission meeting must have seemed like the bad old/good old days — bad for residents facing neighborhood-changing developments, good for developers who want to make those changes and some money.
What and where is the development in question?
Near the massive asphalt pit on Desert Inn Road. Lennar Homes received approval for a nonconforming zone change, allowing it to build 191 homes on 42 acres bound by Desert Inn Road, Tenaya Way, Spring Mountain Road and Montessori Street. Many homes near the plot are zoned as rural/ranch estates, a zoning designation that would allow about 80 homes on a parcel of that size.
So neighbors don’t want a denser development for traffic and the usual not-in-my-backyard reasons?
Yep. They have met with the developer, which initially planned 236 homes, then reduced it to 191. Neighbors said they wanted the density reduced further, and they wanted assurances that if Lennar fails, it could not sell the property to another company that could build a denser development.
Clark County commissioner, Susan Brager.
They said they have been denied amenities that other neighborhoods have asked for and received, such as blocked streets. For once, couldn’t they get their way?
To mitigate traffic increases that might result from the development, Commissioner Susan Brager, who represents the area, vowed to meet with county staff to see what kind of traffic restrictions — gates, blocked streets, speed bumps — could be put in to discourage commuters from using the streets. She also demanded that Lennar build a barrier on Desert Inn Road so vehicles from the development don’t dash across “D.I.” into their neighborhoods.
Were the neighbors happy about that?
Not really. Many thought Lennar would reduce the number of lots by another 10 or 15. But it didn’t.
The company did make other changes, saying it would accelerate development of the project. Then, if it didn’t reach certain benchmarks, the land would revert to its original zoning, which wouldn’t allow as many homes.
A company representative, however, said Lennar would not budge from 191 lots.
How did the commissioners vote?
Five voted for the zoning change. Chris Giunchigliani and Lawrence Weekly voted no.
And the neighbors’ reaction?
Jose Hernandez, who lives in the area, vowed after the meeting to establish a committee to unseat Brager in the next election. (Side note: Observing the meeting was failed U.S. Senate candidate Richard Ziser, who lives a few blocks from the proposed development.)
When is Brager up for re-election?
If she runs again, it would be in 2014.
What did Hernandez say?
“We got absolutely nothing that we asked for.” Hernandez added that he had collected 250 signatures on a petition against the development. He said that when he mentioned the petition to Brager before the meeting, “she said she didn’t care if we had signatures or that we might try to vote her out.”
Hernandez said when he spoke to Brager about the project a few weeks ago, her “tone” indicated to him that she had “already made up her mind. She said she’d get back to me about my ideas, but she never called back.”
What does Brager say about that?
“I told him you could have 200 signatures, but one person can make a difference, but if he would supply those signatures he would be welcome to do that.”
She also said she didn’t make up her mind before the meeting and that Lennar did not get everything it wanted, either.
“They cut back by almost 50 the number of homes. We made them do 10,000-square-foot lots (in some areas),” she said.
She added that it amazes her when people say developers get everything they want. For every plan that’s approved, maybe 10 “never go anywhere because we feel it isn’t a good placement.”
Is this a sign that the development tide is turning?
If it is, then get ready for more battles like this.
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