Synagogue gets OK for tower in Summerlin

Citing its leniency toward religious institutions, the Clark County Commission rejected arguments presented Wednesday by a collection of Summerlin homeowners who expressed concerns about a planned Jewish community center.

The neighbors had no problems with the complex that will include a synagogue, private school and day-care center on 9 acres at the corner of Town Center Drive and Havenwood Lane.

They do, however, claim a 51-foot-tall circular tower near the front of the community center is an intrusion in their neighborhood, which consists mostly of single-story homes.

"It will be the tallest structure within a 2-mile radius," resident Tom Johnson said. "We feel it is excessively high for the area."

The synagogue needed a variance -- which it received by unanimous vote -- to build the domed tower because the height limit in the county is 35 feet. Johnson said the synagogue initially asked for a 45-foot-tall tower last August, but has since raised it.

"They decided to go back and make it higher because nobody opposed it; nobody lived there at the time," Johnson explained.

Attorney Paul Larsen, who represents the Jewish community center, said the dome is simply a ceiling to an area of worship inside the synagogue. Not only are the windows at the top of the tower stained glass, he said, but nobody could reach the top to look out.

"I think the neighbors' concerns are misplaced," Larsen said. "If they're worried about people looking into their yards, that's just not the case."

Earlier this year, the commission approved a Serbian church near the corner of Flamingo Road and Jones Boulevard, provided the church's spiral be shortened from about 160 feet to 85 feet.

On Wednesday, the Summerlin homeowners asked the board to at least reduce the height of the Jewish Community Center tower to 45 feet, but the request was denied.

"I understand the concerns of the residents," Commissioner Erin Kenny said. "But we have to be consistent with regards to accommodating religious structures in our community."

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