Keep Red Rock Rural
Aug 17 Fallout...Focus on the Positive
- Details
- Published on Monday, 24 October 2011 21:36
- Written by Heather Fisher
The county commission meeting on August 17 was a historic event with record breaking numbers of citizens opposing major project development in Red Rock Canyon. As popular as Red Rock has always been, this was the best showing of public support for the canyon to date. The chambers and overflow halls were packed. Hundreds of expert testimonies were presented from just about every angle, stretching the meeting out over six hours long. Additionally, commissioners received over a thousand emails each and were presented with more than five thousand signatures on a petition asking them to "Save Red Rock Canyon from major project development".
The vote ended in public outrage as most commissioners voted to approve the concept (only Commissioners Chris G. and Lawrence Weekly voted to deny it). But from what initially seemed like a huge loss, in the aftermath, we find a few very important results to focus on. Jim Rhodes may have won the approval of the concept plan, but he lost some important things as well. He has many more hurdles to cross. In the official Notice of Final Action, we read that Commissioner Susan Brager was able to hold strong to her list of protections for Red Rock despite rising pressure at the end (by the developer's team and a couple of commissioners) to get her to remove them.
Yes we have been through some major disappointments and fought some difficult battles, but this latest meeting elicited the strongest public support yet and our efforts did not go unnoticed. The war is not over. The development is far from feasible. Here are some significant wins that have come as a result of the growing public support for Red Rock:
As you can see, there are many reasons to stay positive and keep trudging forward. The problem is that after the last meeting, the wider public thinks that this is a done deal, that the concept plan is the actual plan, and that it's too late to stop the development. This is exactlly what the developer wants us to think, but it's far from true and it's far from over. Too many people like Red Rock Canyon just the way it is!
- No County Support for Land Transfer. Commissioner Brager denied the developer's request to put this issue on the county's agenda, deferring it to the BLM instead, as managers of the public lands in question. But this doesn't mean another commissioner couldn't put it on the agenda. And even though as a matter of courtesy, the commissioners historically defer to the one who's district it is, the developer's lawyers have been meeting with other commissioners.
- No More Land Swaps. The federal land swap process was terminated years ago for all the ethics problems it caused. Buying and selling, swaps, exchanges, transfers, whatever they call it, is a very long and expensive undertaking. The BLM said they no longer do land swaps, but that they could buy and sell land if it is in the public's best interest, or if the county requests it. Another reason to support the county's decision to keep this off the agenda.
- No Right of Way granted without public process. The BLM must grant approval for the rights-of-way for the highway BEFORE approval of the County Commission for the next phase of the Major Project process, the "Specific Plan".
- No Access to SR 159 from the development. This important and unexpected condition on the land allows for a safer and less-traveled Scenic Byway. This cannot be changed without an act of congress, so we need to watch what's happening in Washington. This is a very important win for all the cyclists, hikers, and climbers who want to keep visiting Red Rock Canyon without extra construction and commercial development traffic.
- Sewer examinations. There must be examined calculations of the proposed sewage system for the development. As the Concept Plan indicated, the waste flows will exit the mountain into the waste system down Rte 160 to the sewer systems of Rhodes' Ranch and Mountain's Edge.
- Open Space Area will remain open space going forward and density is limited only to land the developer owns. The development team tried to get Commissioner Brager to change her motion and credit them for open space not included and land they didn't own so they could artificially increase their density, but she didn't give in.
- Possible purchase of the proposed development! In the September 6 meeting, $50 million dollars were revealed by the Manager of the Desert Conservation Program to be used for conservation purposes. Commissioner Chris G. suggested that the county consider allocating these conservation dollars to help the NCA by purchasing these adjacent sensitive lands, if the developer was willing. This would be a win-win for all. The developer could get money for his land that is otherwise unsellable, and everyone else would be relieved to get this sensitive area into public ownership. (Not to mention it would make an amazing campground or wildlife refuge or amphitheatre/park for the county.)
Red Rock Jamboree!
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 11 October 2011 01:15
- Written by Heather Fisher
map of the Blue Diamond Rec. Hall (on this link, type in 9 Village Way, Blue Diamond, NV 89004)
history: read the overlay and news sections
Settlement Agreement in Question
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 23:22
- Written by Heather Fisher
Clark County Commission's Red Rock Settlement Agreement Brought into Question
Deputy DA Rob Warhola's sales pitch to the Clark County Commission to settle with Jim Rhodes over the Red Rock Overlay ordinance receives new scrutiny.
Recent News Stories
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 21 August 2011 09:31
- Written by Heather Fisher
Wednesday's meeting fired up major disappointment. Clark County Commissioners voted 5-2 in favor of the developer's concept plan despite an overflowing auditorium, hallways, and cafeteria and six hours of public testimony against it.
For the latest discussions and continuing information on the fight to Save Red Rock, search "Save Red Rock" on Facebook.
- LV RJ column: Jane Ann Morrison: Idea of Shining City... (August 20, 2011) READ IT
- RJ TV: Nathan Tannenbaum: Angry Crowd Against Blue Diamond Hill (August 17, 2011) SEE IT
- Fox 5 News: 2.3 B Dollar Red Rock Development takes a step forward (August 17, 2011) SEE IT
- Las Vegas Sun Article: County Approves Rhodes' Planned Project Near Red Rock (August 17, 2011) READ IT
- LV RJ Article: Rhodes Gets Initial Approval...(August 17, 2011) READ IT
- 8 News Now: County Commission Approves Red Rock Devt. Plan. (August 17, 2011) SEE IT
- more on the NEWS page of this site
August 17 Hearing Tomorrow!
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 17:30
- Written by Heather Fisher
Dear Friends of Red Rock Canyon,
The Clark County Commissioners' meeting is tomorrow!
(At which they will be deciding whether to approve or deny the concept plan for high density development on the mountain in the middle of Red Rock, see map.)
Today is your last chance before the meeting to make a difference. If you haven't already, please do what you can to help SAVE RED ROCK!
- sign the Petition
- contact the commissioners: just write a short note asking them to PLEASE KEEP RED ROCK RURAL!
- Emails: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Phone: 455-3500
- Fax: 455-3271
- names, districts, and more
- attend the Clark County Commissioner's hearing
- AUGUST 17, 9:00 a.m.
- Wear Red for Red Rock.
- Clark County Government Building
- 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy, LV, NV 89155
- You can RSVP on Facebook
- spread the word
- network on facebook (Save Red Rock Canyon group page and event page)
- forward the info. to your friends
Thank you,
Heather Fisher
www.saveredrock.com
The map:
The concept plan:
The major project submitted to Clark County Commissioners for consideration, proposes a a high density development of over 7000 homes, a university and/or research center, businesses, hotels, condos, and strip malls atop the mountain in the middle of Red Rock Canyon.
The plan does not honor the land use and zoning plans for the area. Nor does the plan honor the local, state and national commitments that led to the creation of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, an area near and dear to Las Vegas that has become world renown for it's hiking, rock climbing, cycling, nature walks, photography, and natural tourist draw.
This concept plan also defies reason and economics, asks commissioners to jump the Las Vegas infrastructure five miles from what is readily available, adds 7,000 more homes in Southern Nevada when 20,000 homes sit vacant, proposes major competition to our local university system, and adds 20,000 or more people in an area of drought.
If the Commissioners approve this concept plan, Clark County will have compromised it's most magnificent National Conservation Area for the profit of one developer. It's not even a question of taking away property owner rights. This developer already has the right to build on his property, but only in a rural manner just like any other private property owner within the canyon (at one house per two acres). But he is not satisfied with this, and is backing his high density mountain proposal with a marvelous public relations effort, very smart legal maneuverings, and a powerful budget.
The decision the commissioners are scheduled to make on the morning of Aug. 17 will define us all.
So to save Red Rock Canyon, public interest needs to be presented in every available means of communication -- newspaper editorials, emails and phone calls to the commissioners, tweets, blogs, websites and -- above all -- presence at the decision-making event. If we care, now is the time to express our senses of honor, reason and beauty. It is a time for action. (from July 31 Evan Blythin letter to editor in Review Journal)
Sample letter to Commissioners:
(from Nevada Conservation League Action Alerts)
I am asking you to protect Red Rock Canyon by voting against the proposed
Blue Diamond Hill development.
It changes the landscape of a national treasure in our own backyard.
Building 7,000 homes along with commercial centers and industrial shops
would create pollution and congestion right in the middle of one of the
region's most popular hiking, cycling, and rock climbing destinations.
It does not make economic sense. The proposed plan places additional
strain on the already overdeveloped housing market and requires an
expansion of the county's current infrastructure to service a new area.
With home prices at their lowest in 20 years, and with a community still
feeling the impacts of the largest foreclosure crisis our nation has ever
seen, WHY would we approve this development?
It opens the door to future developers trying to break the rules for
building in rural areas. These codes exist to limit the consumption of
limited resources, such as water, in areas with limited access to
resources, as well as to protect the natural character of our most beloved
natural areas.