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Developer Rhodes withdraws plan to use Red Rock Canyon scenic route
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Las Vegas Review-Journal
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Feb. 9, 2012 | 8:29 a.m.
Opponents of Jim Rhodes' proposed 4,700-home hilltop development near Blue Diamond are celebrating a small victory in their battle to preserve Red Rock.
After much public scrutiny that drew the attention of the rock band The Killers, the developer withdrew his request from the county to use state Route 159, the scenic route that runs through Red Rock Canyon, including the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, during construction. The Clark County Commission, sitting as the zoning board, had been scheduled to hear the request Wednesday.
Rhodes plans to develop 2,000 acres and wanted to use the scenic route during the initial phase of construction to build the project's access road and for safety and emergency purposes. The project includes developing homes, a business park and retail areas, among other amenities, on the former gypsum mining site.
Red Rock supporters don't want the project built at all because they think it would ruin the pristine high-desert valley. Rhodes wants a higher density of homes per acre, which would make him more money.
Rhodes' attorney, Chris Kaempfer, said his client is not backing down from the proposed mountaintop development.
To move forward with the project, Rhodes needs the Bureau of Land Management to determine where the project's access road will be located from Route 160, the main highway between Las Vegas and Pahrump.
"We should have thought about that earlier," Kaempfer said. "It was premature to discuss how a road should best be constructed until it was determined where that road would be."
Rhodes wanted the county to waive that condition requiring BLM approval for the main access road ultimately built from Route 160 before the county would approve the specific plan that finalizes the land use plan and identifies issues with the project. County staff disagreed with the request because it hasn't been determined whether the road would be public or private.
Rhodes wanted the county to file the BLM application. The County Commission said right-of-way access across BLM land is Rhodes' responsibility. Once the application is filed, it could take between 18 months and three years for BLM and associated agencies to decide whether the new road is public or private, according to county staff.
The request has not been sent to BLM, Kaempfer added.
Heather Fisher, director of Save Red Rock, which is protesting the project, said she thinks Rhodes didn't have the votes from county commissioners he wanted and pulled the plug.
"Now he has to go through the process just like any other developer," Fisher said. "That's what we want. We don't want to take any property rights away from him. We don't want him to have special rights more than anybody else."
Kaempfer has said the developer needs the access from Route 159 to build the road from the hilltop down to Route 160. That would use the material graded from lots at the top of the hill to build the access road.
It would be more expensive to build the road up the hill from Route 160 because the developer would have to haul in material for the road and get rid of the excess material from the top of the hill, causing more construction traffic, Kaempfer said.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jones said Rhodes could use Route 159 during the early phase of construction.
County attorneys have advised the commission that it can't reject the project because of location, or the judge might step in and make zoning decisions.
Kaempfer said his client won't enforce the court order, yet.
"This isn't moving forward on merit and popularity and sustainability," Fisher said. "It's moving forward on threats of lawsuits. That's what's moving it forward, not the acceptance of the community. We know he'll be back. This isn't the end. This is one battle in a big war to have him comply with rules that others have to comply with."
Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.
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What reason, other than a history of bribing public figures, building shoddy homes, and leaving creditors holding his bad debts, do all of you mean people have to bad mouth poor Jim Rhodes. He's a nice guy, when Erin Lovelace Kenny needed a job and no one else would hire her Jim recognized that she had a good head for business and gave her a chance.
Anyone remember the zoning scandal involving Rhodes Homes back in 2007? Does the name Erin Kenny ring a bell?
I worked for Rhodes Homes! He's a cutthroat contractor.Half of his crews were what we called "Mafia Crews". They were a rag-tag bunch who did there own freelance repairs and engineering. It took years for the Building Department to get wise to this shoddy builder and I saw it first hand. He lost most of his projects to Bankruptcy a few years back. Alot of his clients he owed money to went Bankrupt too. He has been able to shelter a few million for himself. He should have to sell his remaining assets to satisfy all the people he SCREWED. If he is allowed to build again it will be the ole saying,"History sometimes repeats its self".Just trust me,this guy is the last guy anybody wants to do business with.
Why doesn't finish one project before he starts another? Red Rock people, keep on fighting.
I used to have a Rhodes home and the drywall contractor put a lien on everyones home because this scumbag Rhodes didnt pay them. It delayed our refinance. He is a total flea
Most all the homes built in this valley in the last twenty years have been square box trash. So close to each other to maximise the land that you can hear the toliet flush next door. And Jim Rhodes is as guilty as they come. How he got that land and what politician he had to pay off to get it might always be unknown. The whole thing just stinks.
For those who think this project is a good thing because it "will bring jobs": Mr. Rhodes's reputation proceeds him. Developers and contractors here in Las Vegas do not want to work with him because he has a history of shafting people. Should this project be built, the jobs will go to out-of-state workers. We will get the economic downside when the project becomes an eyesore overlooking Red Rock, anyone who buys a home will end up with all sorts of construction and other problems and Rhodes will find a way to make money for himself and run.
Seems to be a lot of anger directed at Mr. Rhodes and his history, dealings, and reputation probably deserve it. But let us not forget that the county commissioners and the county planning commission have facilitated each of his adventures. Perhaps someone needs to address their involvement in his projects and the benefits they have, or might have, received for that involvement.
Some of us are more equal than others. Mr. Rhodes feels Red Rock Canyon is his uniquely to exploit for profit.
btw - i moved here in the late 90's from orange county, obviously a high end market. i remember how everybody was telling me (like so many others from california) 'hey, you can buy a way bigger house than here in cali'. i looked for a bit and realized that the thing was a complete sham. houses going for $250,000 weren't close in value to what you could get in southern cal - bigger, yes, but in every other aspect...no! i decided against and am grateful for it. in fact, i've benefited because i've found it to be a renter/leaser's market. you value your construction work much more than it's worth...