Editorial: Sigh of relief for Mount Charleston

Developer Allen Nel wanted to build a 60,000-square-foot, Western-themed commercial center along the north side of Kyle Canyon Road. But the fact is that it was incompatible with the surrounding area and posed a threat to public safety. Just as importantly as rejecting the new development, the County Commission corrected a mistake made in its master plan for the area several years ago when it accidentally listed the land as commercial in its land use guide. It now is properly designated as residential-countryside.

Considering the breakneck pace of development in the Las Vegas Valley, an outside observer might wonder why so many Las Vegans would oppose the addition of what would seem to be just another commercial center. But people visit Mount Charleston because it is just the opposite of Las Vegas. It's relatively free of traffic congestion, pollution and the cacophony of noise that bombard residents in the valley.

People go to this mountain getaway to relax, not shop. Wednesday's vote by the County Commission was an important step in showing that Las Vegans know progress sometimes is not measured in what we build, but in what we preserve.

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