Council approves school site

After three years, city chooses location for Smalley Elementary

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The Henderson City Council voted to approve at its April 18 meeting a site at the corner of Greenway Road and Paradise Hills Drive for the future Smalley Elementary School, bringing to a close a debate that has lasted for three years.

On one side were the frustrated parents and staff at nearby Walker Elementary School, which has become extremely overcrowded due to fast-paced development in the area.

On the other side were members of the Mission-Paradise Rural Alliance, a group that works to ensure that the area of town where Smalley would be built stays rural.

They wanted the council to keep the traffic and noise associated with a new elementary school out of the rural overlay area.

But in the end the council voted to place Smalley at Greenway Road and Paradise Hills Drive, at the edge of the overlay area.

Council members and Mayor James Gibson alike bemoaned the fact that there were two very clear sides to the debate, one clear winner and one loser.

"That's not the way we're used to doing business," said Councilman Steven Kirk.

Kirk and Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers said they were bothered by how divisive the issue had become and blamed the Clark County School District, in part, for leaving the city so few choices in such a short window of time.

Walker is bursting at the seams and waiting until the next school year was not really an option by the time the district formally presented the Greenway Road and Paradise Hills Drive site as an option.

Cyphers said she wants to see more planning next time.

"I believe we have an understanding between the school district staff and our staff that we're going to be more proactive in how we plan these school sites, because I never want to be put in this situation again where I have to make a decision like this," Cyphers said. "This cannot happen."

The council also participated in two presentations during the April 18 meeting.

Gibson and the council presented the proclamation declaring April 17-23, 2006, as Henderson Community Development Week.

The council also joined with Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Tony Thomas in presenting four Gold Medal Awards.

Captain Shawn White, Henderson Fire Department; Chris Alvarez, Henderson Firefighter/Paramedic; Officer Gustavo Leigh, Henderson Police Department; and Eagle Scout Isaiah Haywood, were awarded medals for their service to the community.

In other action, the council:

Approved a petition to vacate 5 feet of Everett Vista Court northeast of Valle Verde Drive and Horizon Ridge Parkway.

Voted to uphold the Planning Commission's denial of the request for a conditional use permit to allow collocation of cellular antennas on the exterior of an approved 80-foot flagpole.

Approve the request for three taverns at the northwest corner of Executive Airport Drive and Bruner Avenue.

Accepted Henderson's One-Year Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2006-2007 regarding Community Development Block Grant funds.

Approved a zone change for land at the northwest corner of Carnegie Street and Horizon Ridge Parkway, from low density residential to office commercial.

Approved a zone change for land at 1401 and 1425 Athol Avenue, from general industrial to general industrial with a planned unit development overlay.

Approved a zone change for land on Olivia Loop Parkway to allow a setback waiver on several lots.

Approved a change to the zoning ordinance regarding distance limitations for alcoholic uses and separation requirements for taverns.

Approved the annexation of 5 acres southeast of Las Vegas Boulevard South and St. Rose Parkway.

Approved an ordinance changing liquor regulations and licenses to make adjustments to certain definitions, delete the requirement for council approval to temporarily close liquor establishments and remove some distance requirements from certain establishments.

Approve the request for a temporary closure for the tavern and restricted gaming business licenses for The Centerfold, 1024 N. Boulder Highway.

Approve an application for a hypnotist and independent massage therapist license for Michelle Maloney.

Approve a resolution making possible a loan for $8.9 million by the City to the Henderson Redevelopment Agency.

Approve a zone change for land at Climbing Canyon Drive and Sunridge Heights Drive, from development holding to neighborhood commercial.

Approve a zone change for land southwest of Horizon Drive and Boulder Highway from highway commercial and industrial park to mixed use commercial with a planned unit development overlay.

Approve a zone change on land at 311 Water St. from downtown core commercial with a redevelopment overlay to downtown core commercial with redevelopment and planned unit development overlays.

Approve a resolution authorizing the donation of surplus property to the city of Carlin, Nevada.