Development plan calls for 3,500 new homes on Blue Diamond Hill, near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Clark County Zoning Commission voted to approve a development agreement for a master-planned community on Blue Diamond Hill, near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, on Wednesday.
The plan, which would put 3,500 homes on the hill, has been bitterly contested for two decades.
Gypsum Resources, the company run by developer Jim Rhodes, has wanted to build a new master-planned community there, though conservationists and others have long fought the idea.
Heather Fisher, president of the conservation organization Save Red Rock, has been one of the most vocal critics.
“I don’t want to get emotional, but it means a lot to a lot of people,” Fisher said of the conservation area while addressing commissioners on Wednesday. “We are heartbroken to witness this stage of the process, where the county has been backed into a corner and is seemingly willing to give up their decisions on land zoning and land use for the benefit of one company.”
WATCH: President of Save Red Rock addresses Clark County commissioners
Zoning commission members voted 6-0 to approve the development agreement, with commissioner Justin Jones abstaining.
Last month, Clark County commissioners approved a mediated $80 million settlement with Gypsum. Earlier this year, Jones was reprimanded by a judge over the deletion of text messages related to the legal battle between the county and Gypsum.
Essentially, what commissioners decided last month was to end the long litigation process with Gypsum so as to not risk a much larger payout, which they said would have crippled the county financially.
Several members of Save Red Rock, on Wednesday, asked commissioners about potential construction traffic concerns along State Route 159, near Blue Diamond, and asked about any possible commercial development on Blue Diamond Hill.
Commercial development, according to Gypsum’s lawyers, will be allowed. The developer also plans to allow for a new elementary school there and a new fire station.
“I just feel like we’re taking our prettiest land and exploiting it,” Fisher said after Wednesday’s meeting. “We have plenty of land that can be developed, it doesn’t have to be in Red Rock.”
Construction of the new community is still contingent on approval from the Bureau of Land Management of a right-of-way to alter traffic from Route 159 to Route 160. It’s unknown when that might be approved.
Jim Rhodes of Gypsum Resources attended Tuesday’s meeting, but declined an interview request by Channel 13.
