August 15, 2002

Dear Editor:

I recently attended the Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council meeting where Laing Homes presented their plan to build a community of roughly 21,000 people in the Red Rock National Conservation Area.

Calvin Champlin, consultant to John Laing, stated there would be "minimal impact" on the environment and to the town of Blue Diamond. However, when asked specific questions about issues, the impact began to shape up as follows:

Cielo Encantado would rely on the Blue Diamond Volunteer Fire Department to respond to their emergency fire and medical needs until such a time that the community population dictated their own fire department; then, they would rely on the already strapped Clark County Firefighters to provide the protection.

Cielo Encantado would set land aside to build schools on. However, until the population dictated a need for such a school to be built, the elementary school children would go down the hill to Blue Diamond Elementary. As it stands now, the small rural school has a census of about 35 children. According to the law, a maximum of 36 children are allowed per classroom, which means the school would be maxed out at 72 children. Laing Homes answer to this? Trailers added to our rural school to accommodate the masses of children that the project will produce.

Highway 159 (which winds through Red Rock National Conservation Area) would need to be expanded to four lanes to accommodate the increase in traffic. The road is already stressed with cars, bikers, cyclists, and runners, as well as the occasional donkey or horse that runs across the road. What will happen to the recreational area wildlife, and environment with a four lane road?

The lighting from Cielo Encantado would shield anyone in Red Rock from the spectacular view of the stars at night. Many Las Vegans regularly come up to Red Rock at night to view the stars, as this cannot be done from the city. Is the developer planning on buying the sky as well?

As a resident of Blue Diamond, I often sit on my porch at night and marvel at the beauty of the Red Rock area. I watch at night as wild burros and horses come to my front yard to eat the grass. I recently watched the meteor shower which is prevalent every August. I listen to the quiet sounds of trees rustling and donkeys braying. I enjoy the dusty sweet smell of the desert. As I drive on the highway, I still marvel daily at the magnificence of the sheer red cliffs in the canyon.

John Laing Homes wants to take all of this away from the citizens of Las Vegas, as well as all of the visitors who are looking for an alternative to what the casinos are offering. Why? A child at the meeting asked, "Can you give us a good reason to do this besides money?" Out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom.

Please help us in our fight to stop this development from occurring.

Sincerely,

Donna Cook
P.O. Box 325
Blue Diamond, NV 89004