Big housing project on former Las Vegas casino site clears hurdle

Lennar Corp.’s proposal to build a 279‑lot subdivision on the former Eastside Cannery property cleared a significant milestone when the Clark County Planning Commission voted Tuesday evening to approve the plan. The site spans roughly 29.5 acres at the intersection of Boulder Highway and Harmon Avenue. Lennar intends to place two‑story single‑family homes on compact lots, describing the dwellings as feeling like townhomes with tiny front and back yards. The development also includes two parkland areas and a trail, which Gronauer of Kaempfer Crowell, counsel for Lennar, called “a truly walkable community.” The approval now moves to the Clark County Commission for final action at its Aug. 5 meeting. County staff had recommended denial, arguing the location is better suited for higher‑density housing given its position on Boulder Highway, the high‑frequency bus service along that corridor, and access to a bus way on Harmon Avenue. Staff raised concerns about the 5‑foot‑long driveways, noting the distance between garage fronts and the street line does not allow adequate sight lines for backing out, creating unsafe circulation, and that the driveways would be too short to accommodate parked vehicles under the current design. They also observed that street parking is fairly limited. In response, Gronauer told the commission that drivers cannot park cars on a 10‑foot driveway, and that the cities of Henderson and Las Vegas permit a 5‑foot option precisely because parking on a shorter driveway is impossible. She said this approach “avoids that struggle and that contented that makes communities truly not precise livable, and Lennar does not privation that.” She illustrated her point with photos of subdivisions featuring 10‑foot driveways where cars protrude over the edge onto the street, and contrasted them with 5‑foot driveway subdivisions where drivers refrain from parking, resulting in a cleaner streetscape. Gronauer added that Lennar’s project will provide ample parking stalls and sufficient space for street parking, allocating one space for every two homes. The Eastside Cannery building was imploded by Boyd Gaming Corp. in March after the company officials determined there was not enough market demand to reopen the property, which had remained closed since the pandemic’s onset. Developers often negotiate purchase options before entering escrow once site approvals are secured.