Planned casino may be too close to training site

Nevada National Guard has firing range near hotel project

An application to bring a 70-acre hotel/casino project with the potential of generating 5,000 jobs and $179 million annually in salaries, taxes and revenue for North Las Vegas was literally shot down by the military at the March 26 North Las Vegas Planning Commission meeting.

Capt. Benjiman Larson of the Nevada National Guard pointed out the project's proximity to the Guard's Floyd Edsell Training facility. Brig. Gen. Francis Gonzalez appeared in chambers, along with a colonel who flew down from Carson City. Larson relayed the safety and impact concerns a resort-hotel would bring in close proximity to the National Guard's firing range.

Larson said of the 33 acres currently in use by the National Guard, there is an actual total of 1,600 acres that are master-planned for future National Guard use in the service of homeland security and in joint training with local law and emergency rescue services.

Referring to plans for the Miller Hotel & Casino project, which include an outdoor amphitheater, restaurants and movie theaters, Larson said such infrastructure will cause complications with military function. Casino project representatives said adjustments, such as lowering the height of the project from 200 feet to 90 feet, had been made in cooperation with Nellis Air Force Base, and discussions on easing the concerns of the National Guard can be broached.

An architectural site plan positioning two parking structures and landscaping were shown as illustrations that the casino had already considered its location.

The commission voted to continue the application to April 23.

DIRTY LAUNDRY

Harrah's Entertainment Inc., submitted an application on the behalf of Parball Corp., to allow the storage of hazardous waste from an existing laundry facility at 100 W. Carey Ave. The application was met with opposition from residents, who said they feel they have become the "trash repository," for the city. This portion of North Las Vegas is home to Republic Services of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne Transfer Station at 315 W. Cheyenne Ave. between Commerce Road and Clayton Avenue and a wrecking yard, as well as the laundry facility, which provides service to Strip hotels.

"We are beginning to feel that we are thrown away," said Carrie Brown Thomas, whose property is near the laundry facility.

Brown and neighbors Willie and William Hicks said traffic congestion from trucks driving in and out of the laundry and the Republic Services dump and wrecking business have changed the landscape of the neighborhood.

The applicant replied that the application for an on-site bulk storage tank will cut deliveries of laundry chemicals from its once-a-week truck deliveries to once a month. Concerns about the materials themselves -- nonylphenoxy ethanol, 2-Butoxyethanol and sodium hydroxide -- were met with chief engineer for the laundry Robert Smith's answer that the tank would reduce the amount of manual handling of materials and thereby reduce accidents. Commissioners Dilip Trivedi and Steve Brown asked about the impact of the materials on the residences in terms of air quality and flammability. A fire department representative said the access to the site and plans for secondary containment would meet with code.

Commissioner Jo Cato was passionate in her opposition to the application.

"I think we've done the residents of this area an injustice. I drive down that section of Commerce. It's an eyesore. Someone has to stand up for these people. I think I'm going to have to do that tonight," Cato said.

The application was approved with commissioners Cato and Dean Leavitt voting against it.

GOOD EATS

The commission's approval of the on-sale application submitted by Deer Springs Town Center LLC heralds the arrival of North Las Vegas' first Red Robin, a restaurant franchise known for burgers and eclectic, pop-culture decor. Currently, there are three Red Robin locations in Las Vegas, with one in the southwest at 2575 S. Decatur Blvd., another in Henderson at 9600 S. Eastern Ave., and one in the northwest portion of the valley at 7860 W. Tropical Parkway. The Deer Springs Town Center location is slated for the northeast corner of North 5th Street and Deer Springs Way. The developer has not released a time frame for construction.

The second approval for on-sale liquor use will bring a Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que to the northeast corner of Craig and Losee roads in the Cannery Corner commercial center. The restaurant is known for its downhome barbecue ribs, catfish and chicken tenders, burgers and sweet cornbread muffins.

The North Rainbow Boulevard location serves a range of beers and wines and is designed to look like a lodge. Construction is set to begin this May.

Brown asked Dave Dworak, a representative for the restaurant, to make sure to send the commission a postcard for the scheduled September opening.