Development OK'd near Calico Ridge

A 3-1 vote by the Henderson Planning Commission in favor of commercial development on land adjacent to the Calico Ridge subdivision officially ends mediation between the city and homeowners.

The Calico Ridge Owners Association has long protested the way in which the city plans development for 62 acres adjacent to their subdivision. Residents say some of the planned commercial and industrial development would come within 20 feet of their homes.

Mediation had been under way between the city and the homeowners in order to reach a compromise. But Thursday night's Planning Commission decision was seen by the 60-plus residents who witnessed it as the end of the mediation process.

Earlier this week, Henderson City Attorney Shauna Hughes told the Sun that mediation was coming to a close.

Bob Reynolds, president of the owners association, said Thursday he has yet to be notified of any official end to the mediation.

"I read in the (Las Vegas Sun) newspaper that mediation was over, but that came as a surprise to me because the city never told me that the mediation was over," Reynold said. "I'm not that thrilled to read about it in the newspaper before anyone told me."

The 3-1 vote approved a request by Eagle Rock Investment to begin commercial development of 20.5 of the industrially zoned acres next to the subdivision.

Residents have expressed fears that such development would increase traffic, crime, decrease property values and harm their way of life.

The Calico Ridge community consists of nearly 400 homeowners and is near Lake Mead Drive and Olsen Street on Henderson's northeast side.

Eagle Rock's plan calls for the 20 acres to be divided into seven separate lots. Each of the lots would be required to go back before the Planning Commission for separate architectural reviews to limit the impact on surrounding neighborhoods as much as possible, according to planners.

That wasn't much comfort to the residents of Calico Ridge, who learned officially of the end of the mediation process along with the success of the Eagle Rock commercial development on the same night.

"All I hear from the commission is the how the developers have a lot of money invested in this land and nobody takes into consideration the $160 million residents have invested in that area in their homes," said resident Charles Bondi.

Planners have maintained that the Eagle Rock development has not only met, but exceeded most of the requirements put forth by the city in order to be as compatible as possible with surrounding neighborhoods.

Marlene Micheals, who represents the developer, expressed frustrations with residents.

"I am alway open to any amicable solutions," Micheals said. "But we keep giving and giving and they (residents) don't want to give back."

The Owners Association, Rey-nolds said, plans to be present when Eagle Rock's proposal goes before the City Council, most likely on March 2.

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