Home»County Commission votes to approve Red Rock development settlement agreement

County Commission votes to approve Red Rock development settlement agreement

Page Last Updated: Thursday April 22, 2010 8:12am PDT

Jerry Brown reporting

Developer Jim Rhodes and environmental groups have been slugging it out for years. They’re at odds over development in an area near Red Rock Canyon.

On Wednesday the longtime opponents faced off in front of a Clark County Commission zoning hearing. While the vote was close, one side definitely prevailed.

“There’s a time to compromise and a time to take a stand. I don’t want my legacy to be that I compromised on Red Rock Canyon,” Commission Chair Rory Reid told those gathered.

The hearing was at times both raucous and emotional. County commissioners debated an agreement that could affect the future development of Red Rock Canyon.

On one side is the environmentalists. On the other is developer Jim Rhodes, who agreed to drop a lawsuit against the county if a settlement agreement to his liking could be worked out.

After a period of public discussion, a settlement agreement, endorsed by the county district attorney, passed on a 4 to 3 vote to the audible displease of opponents.

“I’m flabbergasted,” Heather Fisher with Save Red Rock Coalition exclaimed in response. “I can’t believe that our public representatives can see how much people care and how much people put work into it and researched it and then go against all that.”

“I understand that it’s a tough position but aren’t you elected to represent the people that elected you?”

Proponents of the settlement agreement were low key in victory.

“Clearly it was a very, extremely difficult decision for the board and emotional at times,” said Terry Murphy with Strategic Solutions Rhodes.

“The approval of the settlement agreement places more protections on Red Rock; there is no development happening within the conservation area and the settlement agreement actually works to prevent that.”

The final motion was placed on the table by Commissioner Susan Brager, who defended the integrity of the County Commission.

“These are people that make honest decisions and I think that at the end of the day, when this comes across and they see what we do for them and how committed we are…. I want to build from that point on.”

Both sides agreed that there are more battles to come.

“Obviously the public will be involved at every stage and the board will make its decision probably about a year from now,” said Murphy.

When Rhodes first proposed building near Red Rock back in 2003, the county and state passed a law limiting how many homes could be built. Rhodes sued and won.

With a new court date approaching, the county feared it could lose again, opening the door for even more development. That’s why county staff pushed for Wednesday’s agreement.

Commissioners Chris Giunchigliani, Lawrence Weekly and Rory Reid voted against it.

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