Billboard deal no everyday occurrence

In a move that rivaled a magic trick, Clark County Commissioners made a monthlong billboard fight between the Las Vegas Boys and Girls Club and a collection of residents vanish in two minutes.

But don't expect board members to pull rabbits out their hats every time a bitter zoning issue comes before them.

"This is not our normal course of action in responding to a zoning matter," Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury said Thursday, a day after agreeing to help fund the club's new facility in exchange for the withdrawal of a zone change request. "There was a feeling that this is a project that needs some help."

Woodbury and Commissioner Dario Herrera worked out a deal with the nonprofit organization, paying it $250,000 from their discretionary capital improvement funds.

The county's donation matched the amount the club would have received if zoning on its 1.6-acre parcel near U.S. 95 in southeastern Las Vegas was changed from residential to commercial. The club planned to allow American Outdoor Advertising to build a 60-foot-tall billboard.

Woodbury made it clear the agreement, which was quickly approved by the commission Wednesday, was made because of the special circumstances surrounding the issue.

"Commissioner Herrera felt this is something the county should get involved in," Woodbury said. "The club provides a lot of services that otherwise the county and various cities would have to provide. It takes the load off county taxpayers."

When word of the proposed project spread through the adjacent Mesa Vista neighborhood residents pulled together to circulate petitions, hound commissioners and schedule town meetings.

Not only would the billboard tower above their back yards, but homeowners feared the advertisement messages might include risque photographs they try to keep away from their children.

The second portion of the project -- leasing the land to a recreation vehicle and boat storage business -- would generate too much traffic in the neighborhood off Orinda Avenue, near East Tropicana Avenue, neighbors said.

After the Paradise Town Board and Clark County Planning Commission rejected the project, the Boys and Girls Club appealed to the County Commission. That is when Herrera and Woodbury interfered with their proposal.

Woodbury said the commissioners use 95 percent of their capital improvement funds in-house, purchasing new equipment or assisting with new county buildings. Each board member has access to about $2 million.

"We always have a small amount we try to work out to see where it's needed," Woodbury said. "We look at nonprofit entities that county services would otherwise have to fulfill. There is no set formula, you kind of feel your way along."

The conclusion to the controversial project benefited everybody except for the advertising agency, which won't get its billboard.

The Boys and Girls Club received money for its newest facility and unloaded an awkwardly shaped piece of land that was whittled down with the building of the freeway and has limited use because sewer and water lines run through it.

Neighbors were not only granted their wish that the billboard proposal disappear, but they also will receive the park they say they desperately need -- and tried to get the club to build -- in their older subdivision.

"I know Commissioner Herrera wants to look into the potential use for a park so residents can have parkland for which families can enjoy," said Deborah Verges, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club. "We appreciate that."

Herrera is out of town and could not be reached for comment.

Craig Jondreau, who organized Mesa Vista residents to battle the organization's request, said the issue received more publicity because of the Boys and Girls Club's involvement. If it were another group, it's doubtful the neighborhood would have received a park.

"The neighbors are absolutely delighted," Jondreau said Thursday. "They hope a park will be forthcoming. It would definitely enhance the neighborhood."

Woodbury said the final agreement has yet to be reached on the land, but the $250,000 is expected to cover the cost of the property.

Woodbury also was pleased with the results.

"Not only does this help us in parks and recreation, it helps with our family and youth services because it keeps kids out of less wholesome activities," Woodbury said. "All in all it's the type of program we like to see, it's just unusual it came up in the context of a zoning application."

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