Thursday, July 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
American Nevada Corp. will seek approval for a 6.4 million-square-foot commercial project in Green Valley Ranch tonight.
If approved by the Henderson Planning Commission, the project would include high-end hotel, casino and retail segments. But construction wouldn't begin for at least two years, an ANC official said.
Some Green Valley residents opposing the development are expected to argue construction of an 800-room hotel-casino would change the complexion of the upscale residential area, part of the 1,300-acre master-planned community south of Lake Mead Drive. Not so, says ANC.
"We're not planning anything that would jeopardize the quality of life here," said David Olson, ANC's senior vice president of marketing.
"The whole thrust of the planning commission hearing is to rezone a 310-acre parcel so we can build an entire commercial development that's consistent with the beltway location."
The project would include restaurants, office space, medical facilities and retail shops in addition to the hotel-casino.
The resort, which would take up only 20 percent of the property, would be developed as a joint venture with a hotel-operating company, though ANC hasn't selected a partner yet.
"It's not going to be a $19.95, free breakfast, flashing-lights place," Olson said. "We want a very, very nice, upscale resort. We've identified a need for upscale rooms in the Henderson area.
"What we want is a little extra height so we can add more open space, more landscaping, so we can do something like you might find in Reston, Va., for example.
"We feel it's very consistent with Henderson's comprehensive plan, the whole thrust of which is to develop more commercial projects in the city so people can live and work here."
The height of the hotel is a sticking point with the project's opponents, who oppose high-rise towers. After more than 36 meetings with homeowner groups over the past six months, ANC lowered the proposed height to 80 feet from 250.
If the project is approved, construction wouldn't begin until after the Southern Beltway is completed in 1998. Work on the overall complex could stretch out 10 to 15 years, Olson said.
He said some opponents who complained about traffic, noise and safety problems that might arise from the project have changed their minds after meeting with ANC officials.
"We've worked with homeowners who previously were petition-carrying, anti-commercial people. Once we took them through the process, showed them what we'd like to do and made some tradeoffs that addressed their concerns, they were very pleased with the plan.
"Not all agree with gaming, not all agree with office space, not all agree with medical. But they recognize that for the community, it's the best way to develop that property."
ANC is a division of Greenspun Inc., which also owns the Las Vegas SUN, Prime Cable and Hospitality Network.
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