A new development at the base of the mountains west of Las Vegas is stirring up debate about whether Las Vegas needs any more casinos.

Focus Property Group is proposing a 1,712-acre development with 16,000 housing units and a casino at the gateway to Kyle Canyon and Mount Charleston.

Reaction to the proposal—which is in very preliminary stages—was predictably mixed.

“We’re growing and we’re going to keep growing,” said Jeremy Amar.

“I’m all for a casino in the area,” said Mike Holland, who has lived in the area for three years. “That’s jobs for the area.”

Opponents said there are already enough casinos in Las Vegas, and cautioned that the new casino would increase traffic in the area, something they say doesn’t bode well for the residential component of the project.

In all, only about 70 people showed up at the meeting. The low turnout suggests that area residents aren’t as outraged as expected over the proposal. It also gives the developers a better chance to interact with those who did attend, according to Mark Fiorentino with Focus Property Group.

“People can ask questions, then sit down, and we can get their real thoughts,” he said.

Todd Schwartz, president of the area homeowners association, disagreed.

“I think this meeting is a sham,” he told the Review-Journal. “This project is being shoved down our throats.”

Representatives of Focus Property Group plan to compile information from comment cards and present them to city and county leaders as they move forward with the project. Few details about the size or scope of the project were made available.

By Casino Connection Staff

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