Red Rock threatened by development

Hayduke LIVES!!!!!

The (canned) reply from Commissioner Scow's office (at least I know her office got it):

Mr. Halladay:

Thank you for your e-mail . I appreciate your concerns regarding the protection and development of the Red Rock Overlay District. As you may know, in 2003, both the State of Nevada and Clark County adopted laws preventing landowners from applying for zone changes that increased density within the Red Rock Overlay District. The applicant filed lawsuits against both the State of Nevada and Clark County alleging that these laws were in violation of the constitutional right to equal protection under law. In 2009, the Federal Court struck down the State Law as unconstitutional. In 2010, as a result of the Federal Court's decision, Clark County approved a settlement agreement allowing the applicant to apply within a permitted portion of preapproved Exception Areas within the Red Rock Overlay to be planned as a Major Project. The initial step of this Major Project is the submittal of a concept plan, which is now being considered. T he Red Rock Citizen's Advisory Council will make a recommendation at their July 27th meeting. The Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to hear the concept plan at our August 17th meeting.

As you may know, I was elected into office several months after the Board of County Commissioners agreed to the settlement agreement. I am currently reviewing all matters related to the lawsuit and settlement agreement at this time. It seems that the Board continues to have a great amount of discretion over what is ultimately planned within the Red Rock Overlay District. I look forward to reviewing the concept plan, and encourage you and all Red Rock enthusiasts to contact my office with suggestions and comments.

Sincerely,
MARY BETH SCOW
County Commissioner - District G

I just sent out about 50 emails to people that will pass it along.

I am a subcontractor that builds houses here in Las Vegas and I will say that there is no reason to be adding additional master planned communities. It will be a decade before the other 4 communities are even close to being built out.

On a personal note I will say that Jim Rhodes is one of the most crooked people in the business. Anything he says now will be trash when it comes time to make it happen. I don't mean to turn this into a Rhodes bashing thread. But it is important to know.

Petition signed and emails sent out to climbing network. Will work on individualized emails to county commissioners.

Cheers to everyone who's brought this to the climbing community's attention and have put in hours to fight against this. Would come to the meetings if it weren't a 20+ hour drive.

emails sent

Hey Admins, any way you could contact some of the old-school climbers on this site like Larry Hamilton and ask them to lend their voice?

Larry has several classic FAs in the area.

Here's the reply from Congressman Heck. I think of particular note is the bit about how the previous Congress failed to vote on the Red Rock Wilderness Act.

Dear Tom,

Thank you for contacting me in support of Red Rock Canyon. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As an avid outdoorsman, I certainly understand the importance of preserving our specially protected conservation areas such as the Red Rock Canyon. As you may know, Red Rock Canyon is a national conservation area managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a part of the National Landscape Conservation System.

You may be interested to know that a bill, H.R. 1925, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, was introduced in the 111th Congress by Representative Maurice Hinchey (D-NY). This legislation designates specific lands, including the Mojave Desert which encompasses Red Rock Canyon, as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Though this legislation was not considered by the House of Representatives when the 111th Congress concluded on January 2, 2011, I expect that similar legislation will soon be introduced in the 112th Congress. Please be assured that I will remember your support for Red Rock Canyon should I have the opportunity to vote on a bill addressing this issue.

Regarding funding for Red Rock Canyon, the previous Congress did not pass any of its 12 annual appropriations bills for FY 2011. As a result, the federal government is currently being funded under what is known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), which is a stopgap measure used by Congress to provide interim funding until a final decision on appropriations is made. While it remains unclear what funding levels for various programs will be for the remainder of FY 2011, please be assured that as someone who understands the importance of maintaining specially protected areas like Red Rock Canyon, I will watch for this funding and remember your support as Congress continues to debate this issue.

For additional information, please visit my website, heck.house.gov. From this site you can access statements about current events or pending legislation, and receive detailed information about the many services that I am privileged to provide for Nevadans.

Again, I appreciate your thoughts and it is an honor to serve you in Congress. Your suggestions are always welcome, and if ever I may be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Dr Joe Heck
Member of Congress

Here is a reply I received from Mary Beth Scow, County Commissioner, District G, less than a day after I sent my email:

Mr. Turner:
Thank you for your e-mail. I appreciate your concerns regarding the protection and development of the Red Rock Overlay District. As you may know, in 2003, both the State of Nevada and Clark County adopted laws preventing landowners from applying for zone changes that increased density within the Red Rock Overlay District. The applicant filed lawsuits against both the State of Nevada and Clark County alleging that these laws were in violation of the constitutional right to equal protection under law. In 2009, the Federal Court struck down the State Law as unconstitutional. In 2010, as a result of the Federal Court's decision, Clark County approved a settlement agreement allowing the applicant to apply within a permitted portion of preapproved Exception Areas within the Red Rock Overlay to be planned as a Major Project. The initial step of this Major Project is the submittal of a concept plan, which is now being considered. The Red Rock Citizen's Advisory Council will make a recommendation at their July 27th meeting. The Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to hear the concept plan at our August 17th meeting.

As you may know, I was elected into office several months after the Board of County Commissioners agreed to the settlement agreement. I am currently reviewing all matters related to the lawsuit and settlement agreement at this time. It seems that the Board continues to have a great amount of discretion over what is ultimately planned within the Red Rock Overlay District. I look forward to reviewing the concept plan, and encourage you and all Red Rock enthusiasts to contact my office with suggestions and comments.

Sincerely,
MARY BETH SCOW
County Commissioner - District G

Not that there's anything wrong with it, but Commissioner Scow is sending out a form response to emails addressing the Red Rock situation. Her response is already up---no need to post it more than once.

John Wilder wrote: also, we've got ye olde facebook involved- she's created an event for those who want to attend and to help spread the word there. sign up and invite all your friends too. facebook.com/event.php?eid=…

There really also ought to be a FB group or page formed for anyone to join or 'like' to show support. Nothing draws attention to an issue like a new FB group spreading like wildfire among climbers across the country. I'm willing to bet a ton more people would 'like' a page on this issue if it didn't focus directly on attending the board meetings, which most of us far off climbers can't do.

I didn't have time to read this whole thread so apologies if this alrady exits.

brittany kruger wrote: There really also ought to be a FB group or page formed for anyone to join or 'like' to show support. Nothing draws attention to an issue like a new FB group spreading like wildfire among climbers across the country. I'm willing to bet a ton more people would 'like' a page on this issue if it didn't focus directly on attending the board meetings, which most of us far off climbers can't do.

Ditto. I just checked FB, and it the above exists I didn't see it. Would anyone intimately familiar with the topic be willing to start a FB group? If so, I'll invite all of my AZ climbing network.

It's an event. Copy the link below to go to the page.

facebook.com/event.php?eid=…

brittany kruger wrote: There really also ought to be a FB group or page formed for anyone to join or 'like' to show support. Nothing draws attention to an issue like a new FB group spreading like wildfire among climbers across the country. I'm willing to bet a ton more people would 'like' a page on this issue if it didn't focus directly on attending the board meetings, which most of us far off climbers can't do. I didn't have time to read this whole thread so apologies if this alrady exits.

It already exists.

facebook.com/group.php?gid=…

brittany kruger wrote: I'm willing to bet a ton more people would 'like' a page on this issue if it didn't focus directly on attending the board meetings, which most of us far off climbers can't do.

Agreed, but keep in mind that what far away climbers must do is contact county commissioners and congressmen. Clicking "I like" on a FB link might make one feel good but has little impact.

Killis, it was all those posts about how Eldo is the Chuck Norris of climbing areas.

Eldo by the way, which is protected by Boulder's lovely green belt and conservation-minded tradition.

I'm composing emails to the Senators and BLM now, already sent the County Commissioners'.

Petition signed, facebook page joined, emails sent. Currently on family vacation in the White Mountains in New Hampshire enjoying the great outdoors of the northeast.

BUMP

please post this to summitpost.com forums also

Bump

John Wilder wrote:I'm heartened to see such a huge outpouring of support- i've received messages from most of the major climbing outlets, and i'll be meeting with the folks at the Access Fund tomorrow or Friday to talk about this along with the AAC and anyone else I can chat up about it here in SLC this week. keep at it folks, we're gaining momentum!

Well done and thanks, John (and everyone else that has voiced their opposition to this plan).

petition signed