Commercial complex wins approval after changes made

Karen Sexton and her neighbors do not want to see West Horizon Ridge Parkway turned into a commercial thoroughfare.

But she and others turned out Tuesday night to support a land use and zone change to allow development of the Horizon Professional Medical Center on 2.2 acres at 2610 Horizon Ridge Parkway west of Eastern Avenue, a development they originally opposed.

Despite the Henderson Planning Commission's recommendation to deny the project, the City Council approved 4-1 changing the land use from single-family residential to neighborhood commercial and the zoning from single-family residential to commercial office. Outgoing Councilman David Wood cast the lone dissenting vote.

The council also approved 4-1 the architectural review for the proposed 30,000-square-foot office building at Horizon Ridge and Eastern.

Don Ross, co-owner and developer of the property also owned by Richard and Souraya Abelson, told the council that city planners had told him they did not want to see Horizon Ridge Parkway become a commercial corridor such as Flamingo Road or Tropicana Avenue.

After neighbors expressed their concerns about the project at a Planning Commission meeting, Ross said he met last week with more than 40 residents to discuss the project.

"When I met with neighbors ... I agreed to cooperate with any minor revisions that they were asking for," he said. "We've tried to build a very elegant, stately building on the project ... I'd like to build a building that when people drive by they say, 'Wow, look at that.' "

Some of the concessions Ross said he made at the neighborhood meeting to gain residents' support were cutting down on the parking lot lighting after hours and installing a number of larger trees for a more mature landscaping look.

Other concerns Ross said neighbors had were increased traffic and obstructed views as a result of the two-story project.

It was at this meeting that Sexton, who lives in Sandy Ridge Estates, said she was won over.

"I was originally opposed to this because it was one more commercial endeavor that was going on Horizon Ridge," she said.

"I don't think traffic is going to be quite an issue with this particular project because of the type of tenants he is going to have. ... I was convinced that the quality of his project was something that I could live with."

The main reason behind her change of heart is that she now realizes the 2.2 acres cannot be developed as residential because property easements have reduced the amount of developable land.

"It has too many things wrong with it. No developer will build a house there," she said.

An office/medical complex would be the best alternative, she said.

"We're concerned, of course, that (Horizon Ridge) not become one commercial property after another, but we are willing to compromise," she said, adding that she thinks if residents have the opportunity to meet with developers before they go to the Planning Commission, it could save all the parties involved a lot of time and effort.

In addition, Sexton said, she would like to see the Planning Commission and the City Council stick to the land use plan rather than allowing numerous zone changes.

Mayor Jim Gibson said one of city officials' priorities is to stem the threat of commercial growth along Horizon Ridge Parkway.

"We've got a major challenge in this area," he said, "and in order to preserve it, we're going to have to put our foot down sometimes."

"When I met with neighbors ... I agreed to cooperate with any minor revisions that they were asking for."Don RossDEVELOPER OF HORIZON RIDGE PARKWAY PROJECT

archive