Casino plan gains ground

Las Vegas leaders on Wednesday came down firmly on the side of allowing a casino at the turnoff to Kyle Canyon, although no one expects the decision to be the final word on the issue.

"This is going to end up before at least a quasi-judicial board," said Mayor Oscar Goodman near the end of the hours-long hearing.

In a series of 6-0 votes, the Las Vegas City Council established a gaming district and permitted a nonrestricted gaming facility near the intersection of U.S. 95 and Kyle Canyon Road on the northwest edge of the city.

Before the votes, though, council members heard hours of testimony from people in favor of or opposed to placing a casino at the center of what's proposed to be a 1,700-acre development with 16,000 residential units.

Opposition focused mostly on the perceived ill effects of casinos, the incompatibility between gaming and the outdoor recreation available in the area, and the fact that Las Vegas already has plenty of casinos.

"Force this developer to think long-term," said Lisa Mayo-DeRiso, a community activist and business development consultant who lives in northwest Las Vegas. "Challenge them to take this 50 acres and develop something else.

"Casinos have huge social costs."

Mark Fiorentino, representing the developer, Focus Property Group, laid out a lengthy case that the casino development wouldn't negatively affect people already living in the area. There are no existing homes within 2,500 feet, he said, and he offered analyses of traffic, job growth, environmental impacts -- even a study of whether children in schools near casinos are better off or not -- to argue that there wouldn't be adverse effects.

And if people don't want to live near a casino, he added, they won't buy real estate there.

The casino site's location on the west side of U.S. 95 is key, said Ward 6 Councilman Steve Ross, whose district includes the area, because the highway would provide a buffer for homes and schools on the east side.

"If this request was on the east side of U.S. 95, you and I wouldn't be having this meeting tonight, or even this conversation," Ross said to Fiorentino.

With Councilman Steve Wolfson absent, the unanimous votes were key because one item -- establishing a new gaming enterprise overlay district -- required a three-fourths vote from the seven-member council.

Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian expressed some reservations.

"I have some concerns about this application," she said, noting that she's "not a big fan" of establishing new gaming districts.

"I strongly believe we must protect our most scenic assets."

She noted that Kyle Canyon Road is a gateway to a natural area, and that when the project is built out, the casino would be close to five schools.

Nevertheless, she deferred to Ross.

"As the representative for Ward 6, he must recommend what he feels is best for his ward," she said. "And I will, therefore, with respect to Councilman Ross, be supporting his motions on these items."