Henderson Planning Commission approves development

After more than a year of working with city staff and numerous meetings and discussions, the Henderson Planning Commission on Nov. 20 voted to allow Glen, Smith & Glen Development to build the largest mixed-use community in the city on the corner of the vacant lot at Stephanie Street and Wigwam Parkway.

The 40-acre development, which won’t begin construction for about two years, still will have to be approved for design and a traffic study at each stage.

The mixed-use project, Park Heights, will include 1,700 homes and 850,000 square feet of commercial space.

“This is where we see housing going in the future,” said Kenneth Smith, chief executive officer of Glen, Smith & Glen Development. “We want to create a gathering place for the people who eventually live here and the greater community.”

The commission didn’t approve two towers at 330 feet tall, but instead put a height limit of 250 feet. That still is taller than any building in Henderson, with the exception of the M Resort, now under construction at St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard South.

“It’s just not compatible for the area to have that height,” Commissioner George Bochanis said.

Plans for Park Heights show a hotel, three-story townhomes, 14.7 acres of open space, stores and restaurants. The project will be built in six phases over six to 10 years. There also will be a civic building, which Smith said can be used as a Henderson library, a Parks and Recreation building, a station for public transportation or anything else city staff would like.

The city is developing a 100-acre lot directly behind the project into a city park. The park will tie into the development, giving residents access to the area, which will have a large gathering space, an amphitheater with a stage, a playground, tot lot and dog park.

There also are plans to build an underpass below American Pacific Drive, which would attach the new park with the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex, 298 Arroyo Grande Blvd. Construction would begin on the park in late 2009.

Smith said that although it may seem like bad timing to build a development of this kind because of the economic crisis the country, he still thinks it’s good timing. It will be three years before people begin moving into the homes and businesses, and the country should have recovered by then, he said.

“You have to be an optimist to be in this business,” Smith said. “I believe this valley will continue to grow. People will continue to come. Over 10 years, will this fill up at a rate of 150 homes per year? Absolutely.”

The project was unanimously approved by Bochanis, Vice Chairman Craig Burr and commissioners Sam Bateman, Joe Belingheri, Terry Mannion.

Chairman Dan Shaw abstained, and Commissioner Debra March was absent.

The Henderson City Council will vote on this item at its Dec. 16 meeting.

Contact Henderson View reporter Lauren Romano at lromano@viewnews.com or 477-3839.