Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Development has too many risks

At a recent Clark County Commission meeting, we learned that the county is considering legislation to obtain and sell off public lands to developers.

Where is the water going to come from to support these new projects? Residents are repeatedly reminded to conserve water because of shortages and droughts. We’re fined for water waste. We’re encouraged to replace our green lawns with rocks. So how can we justify new developments? A water official was obviously doing his job recently when he blocked the Coyote Springs construction project because of sustainability concerns. Other officials would be wise to heed those concerns.

Let’s also not forget that we are seeing an increasing number of coyotes roaming into urban neighborhoods; that’s because we’ve been encroaching upon their habitats. Desert tortoises and other native species are also at risk of losing their homes to urban sprawl.

Those who enjoy outdoor recreation have reason to be concerned, as well, as plans would hinder some of those activities.

In the enthusiasm to grow our town, we shouldn’t forget to employ common sense and weigh the negative impacts against the benefits of urban sprawl.