Sierra Club criticizes LV sprawl

The Sierra Club is criticizing Las Vegas for unplanned "urban sprawl" but gives few suggestions on how the city should address growth issues differently.

Holly Minch, a spokeswoman for the Sierra Club in Washington, D.C., lamented the loss of desert as Las Vegas expands to meet the needs of its growing population.

Commenting on a national report released last week that offered biting criticism of Las Vegas' urban planning, Minch said, "A lot of desert around Las Vegas is disappearing."

Minch said a lot of desert is being lost to pricey, low-density subdivisions.

But this criticism is not necessarily fair or accurate, according to Tom Perrigo of the city of Las Vegas planning department.

"When you look at the density of our development it is near what some ideal communities are at," he said. "There is always room for improvement, but planning is taking place here."

Other than to say the city needs better planning, Minch was short on answers as to how the city should accommodate the massive influx of new residents without expanding its boundaries.

"I'm not saying I have the answers here. But a city needs to do more than wait for a developer to come along with a new idea for a subdivision, where he thinks he can make some money," Minch said.

Perrigo said the city is working well with developers and individuals in planning for growth. But he acknowledged there needs to be greater coordination between the city, Clark County and the state.

"In any city there is always room for improvement," he said.

The Sierra report says growth is depleting wildlife habitat and water from the Colorado River.

The Sierra Club listed Las Vegas third among medium-size American cities with urban sprawl problems. Orlando, Fla., ranked first and Austin, Texas, ranked second.

Among large cities, Atlanta, St. Louis and Washington, D.C., topped the list.

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