Red Rocks under imminent threat of development

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healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jul 28, 2011 - 06:09pm PT
A hazardous and radiological waste survey should be conducted at the site and if anything is found it should be made public...
Indianclimber3

Trad climber
Jul 28, 2011 - 07:32pm PT
The land is worth a lot more to the developer with the zoning approved
Jim Rhodes probably wont be able to get it together himself,but can always section it off to Kb homes,Pulte etc,who are already starting to build new
subdivisions in Summerlin
Foreclosures in Vegas are high but there are a lot less for sale signs in the more desired areas like Summerlin where anything foreclosed has been snapped up long ago

k-man

Gym climber
SCruz
Jul 28, 2011 - 10:46pm PT
Almost hate to say it, but.....


We should all pitch in and buy one of the homes! Then we could forget the CG and stroll over to the climbs.



















(OK, bad idea.)
Tobia

Social climber
GA
Jul 29, 2011 - 12:13am PT
My brother owns a house in Summerlin and at one time was the head honcho in that development; which is in close proximity to where this is happening. You can see Summerlin in the Mountain Project image.

Summerlin was owned by the Rouse Company, then the Hughes Corporation, and now some other corporation. They could care less about the "red rocks"; except how to remove or exploit.

It kills me to see them continue in this direction, with little regard to anyone or anything; especially with the question of a sustainable water supply in doubt.

It's a sad world.

RokJox: Some of these developers are their own banks.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Jul 29, 2011 - 12:58am PT
Joseph has a good point.

Make it costly.

Mr. Ed Abbey would be proud, monkey wrencher.
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:02pm PT
radiological waste survey
Not likely to show anything. The Test Site is about 60 miles North.
hazardous waste: plenty of gypsum dust. Which will be liberated during construction. But hey, everyone in Vegas spends 99% of their time in air conditioned environmental chambers, they won't care.
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:33pm PT
Gypsum production can involve radiological waste depending on the source stream constituents and production methods.
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:43pm PT
Mr. Ed Abbey would be proud, monkey wrencher.

Yes.

Make it more expensive, difficult, time consuming.

Wrench away I say.
WBraun

climber
Jul 29, 2011 - 01:51pm PT
Yes it's true that developers could care less about some dumb stupid rock climbers.

When I worked for Dempsy in Mammoth in the 70's he was the biggest developer there at the time.

Condos everywhere.

One day I was with him and asked him why he was going to rip up the meadows there in Old Mammoth to develop his latest massacre of condos and golf course.

He looked me straight in the eye and said: "Werner get it all now while you can before someone else does and retire."

I sarcastically said: "Yeah good idea" ..... :-)
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Jul 29, 2011 - 02:05pm PT
Interesting thought Dingus, thanks.
philo

Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
Jul 29, 2011 - 02:11pm PT
Ding, Ding, Dingus rings the bell.
rgold

Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
Jul 29, 2011 - 04:57pm PT
The petition at saveredrock.com is up:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saveredrock2/
Burt

Big Wall climber
Las Vegas, Nv
Jul 29, 2011 - 05:04pm PT
R Gold thank you for keeping Anyssa safe, but more importantly thank you for standing up for my home. Guys this is serious, I mean come on. I can't imagine climbing in the canyons, getting done and walking out after dark and looking at this megatropolis. I mean the plan calls for soccer parks with lighting and everything. The days of walking out of my house in Blue Diamond and taking a quit night to walk up the canyons may be numbered. BUILD IN TOWN MR. RHODES keep Red Rock out of it! sign it and lets keep this on the front page, no one will benefit from developing on the hill.

Kurt Burt
rgold

Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
Jul 29, 2011 - 05:38pm PT
I've sent the following individual email to each of the commissioners:

Steve Sisolak, District A, ccdista@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Tom Collins, District B, ccdistb@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Larry Brown, District C, ccdistc@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Lawrence Weekly, District D, ccdistd@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Chris Giunchigliani, District E, ccdiste@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Susan Brager, District F, ccdistf@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Mary Beth Scow, District G, ccdistg@ClarkCountyNV.gov


Dear Commissioner __,

There is a substantial array of problems associated with the Gypsum Reclamation Concept Plan submitted by Gypsum Resources LLC. Surely the failure of the Inspirada, Mountain Edge, Providence, and McDonald Highlands communities as well as the suspension of the Coyote Springs development ought to give pause for a lot of thought, and I imagine the Commission will be getting an earful from local citizens about the deleterious effects of trying to graft a small city onto a rural mountain top.

But I am writing as a tourist from the other end of the country whose interest is in hiking and climbing, a group with thousands of members. From the perspective hikers and climbers, the Red Rock viewshed will be irrevocably scarred by the presence of a small city on top of Blue Diamond Hill. This should not be taken lightly. I and thousands of other climbers make annual trips to Las Vegas specifically to hike and/or climb. We stay in hotels, patronize restaurants, and do some shopping. But the reason we come is that Red Rock offers a climbing experience that is unique in the U.S., and part of this experience is the back-country feel of the long routes combined with the nearby comforts of an urban center. This works because the "urban center," although creeping closer to the park boundaries year by year, is still suitably distant, something that would completely change with the proposed Gypsum Resources development.

Once you urbanize Red Rock, I and countless other climbers and hikers will start looking further afield for our climbing vacations---our tourism dollars will be going elsewhere.

I am hoping that the commissioner's perspective on the viewshed issue is not as myopic as the self-serving analysis in the Gypsum Reclamation Concept Plan, which states (Section 3.11),

In an effort to protect the scenic resources of the area and to minimize any impacts to the surrounding viewshed by proposed development, Gypsum Resources undertook a comprehensive analysis of the Study Area’s geologic and topographic features. Specific attention was directed to potential viewshed impacts associated with the reclamation plan – development that could be visible to motorists along SR 159 and the Red Rock Scenic Loop, bicyclists, pedestrians, hikers, and visitors to the RRCNCA…In summary, the analysis clearly shows that the majority of areas within the project can be developed without compromising the viewshed along SR 159, the Town of Blue Diamond, and the Red Rock Loop.

This analysis embraces the value of protecting "the scenic resources of the area," but then restricts the viewing "corridors" to a few locations below the development, whereas almost everyone who hikes or climbs in Red Rock will be above the development, which will, consequently, be in plain and unobstructed sight.

I might add that the willingness of Gypsum Resources to supply a viewshed analysis that is this faulty cannot help but raise serious questions about the reliability of other analyses in that document. All the fancy maps and pretty colors mean nothing when the evidence has been produced under assumptions that predetermine a favorable outcome.

In Section 1.2 of the Concept Plan, Gypsum Resources says,

The site’s proximity to one of the nations most beautiful and treasured environments provides unique opportunities, challenges, and inherent responsibilities – celebrate the unique qualities of this place.

I don't think all the maps and pretty colors, however diverting, can hide the fact that Gypsum Resources has little interest in the mission it proclaims. It is now up to the Commission to implement the stirring but empty words of this concept plan gone awry. I hope you can find the courage and vision to prevent the increased density proposed in this plan by affirming the existing land use plan and zoning.

RG

--------------------------------------


My take on such things is completely different from all the naysayers who seem to be capable of unlimited amounts of hot air in the service of why they are doing nothing, when they could instead, for whatever it might be worth, at least attempt to influence public policy. Get off yer butts and at least sign the petition folks!
cupton

climber
Where the past and future meet
Jul 29, 2011 - 08:06pm PT
Vegas doesn't have the water to keep growing.

When the Ogallala aquifer dries up we are all pretty screwed... install your rainwater catchment systems now and be self sufficient!
ericandlucie

Trad climber
Santa Fe, NM
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 31, 2011 - 02:45pm PT
Happy to see this post generated some reactions.
Yes, we are up against some powerful interests, but that doesn't mean that public outcry will not make a difference. It does however mean that we need hundreds, no, make that thousands of e-mails in the next few days. Clark county will make a decision on the plan on August 17. Only days left to make your voice heard.

Here's what to do (in that order):
1. write e-mails to Clark county commissioners; see page 1 of this thread for contact info
2. tell your friends to do the same
3. sign the petition: http://www.saveredrock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120&Itemid=72
4. send e-mails to congressmen and the BLM; again see page 1 of this thread for contact info
5. if you live reasonably close to Vegas, be at the Clark County zoning commission meeting on August 17, and either speak or wear/carry evidence of your position on the issue.
ericandlucie

Trad climber
Santa Fe, NM
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 31, 2011 - 03:40pm PT
Here's a map showing the proposed development (from the developer's plan), right in the middle of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Hopefully it will make the impact clear!

Jingy

climber
Somewhere out there
Jul 31, 2011 - 04:47pm PT
Everything in the "GOALS + OBJECTIVES + PLANNING PRINCIPLES" section is total ballocks!


Wishy-washy, sham..

Sounds good, but if there are any questions asked, its wait for the answer.

Not much I feel I can do?
ericandlucie

Trad climber
Santa Fe, NM
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 31, 2011 - 07:19pm PT
you can write some e-mails. That's what you can do. Do it.
philo

Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
Jul 31, 2011 - 07:32pm PT
Or you can believe the "what can one man do" lie we have all been sauteed in our whole lives and just give up.
Messages 21 - 40 of total 84 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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