Officials have new plan for land near Tule Springs

Las Vegas officials have a new vision for developing a unique piece of land surrounded by sensitive land packed with environmental and cultural resources.

The plan sets out expectations for future development of 1,000 acres situated between the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Paiute tribal lands and the Las Vegas Wash, a channel that drains water from the valley into Lake Mead.

The plan conceives of “villages” with pockets of development separated by open spaces with open wash corridors and connected by walking, bike and equestrian trails at the northwestern reaches of the city’s Ward 6.

“Please send your money immediately It’s very important we understand Ward 6 is different from the rest of your wards. to Ward 6,” Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman quipped last week, before the City Council approved the plan.

The city’s plan for the site establishes guidelines for future building in the quickly growing area, with green space buffers and open wash corridors, to curb the impact of development on the surrounding natural areas.

Councilwoman Michele Fiore called the plan an example of “how good government works,” helping to protect the national monument and making the area accessible to Nevadans.

The bare site, which is controlled by the federal Bureau of Land Management, sits just west of the 22,650acre monument, which gained its designation in 2014 to preserve ice age fossils and geologic deposits that are hundreds of thousands of years old.

Fiore said she envisions a future where residents can ride their horses to a commercial area and hitch them up outside a coffee shop.

“Ward 6 has a lot of open space, a lot of rural area, a lot of parks,”

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“I did find it slightly unprofessional that our board officers did not inform me,” Garvey said.

Child, whose relationship with Skorkowsky soured when the superintendent restricted his access to schools, was particularly angry that the announcement was held at a school in his district.

“Garvey and I have been ones that have been asking all the hard questions, and I’ve been asking him since November, and look at what they’ve done to me,” said Child, suggesting the flurry of district information regarding his alleged inappropriate behavior was a vendetta.

Skorkowsky also may see some employees as obstacles impeding the district’s success, especially those who were uncooperative during the district reorganization process.

Judging by Skorkowsky’s fiery remarks, I’ll bet that some of those problematic employees will be leaving their jobs in the months ahead. Whether they’ll be shoved or gently nudged out the door remains to be seen.

Garvey said she’s already received a few phone calls from concerned employees regarding Skorkowsky’s scripted retirement announcement.

“That memo they took as a little worrisome,” she said. “They were afraid that if anyone challenges or asks questions that contradict Pat, or what he wants, it’s going to be bad news for them.”

Finally free from the chains of playing politics, Skorkowsky made it clear that he isn’t holding back on calling people out. He criticized the unions, saying they “can’t just stand their with their hands out all the time.”

“They can’t resort to nasty personal attacks,” he said. “I’ve had those for the past four years — bring them on.”

And perhaps now that he doesn’t have to suck up to the Legislature to get what the district needs, Skorkowsky will more robustly criticize Nevada’s funding for education.

The main takeaway from this week’s events: Hell truly hath no fury like a superintendent scorned.

Contact Amelia Pak-harvey at apak-harvey@reviewjournal. com or 702-383-4630. Follow @ Ameliapakharvey on Twitter.