COMMUNITY PLANNING IN THE LAKES (LAS VEGAS)
If you own a home in Las Vegas, or are planning to move here, this subject might interest you. It’s about the changes happening in our city and the ways we must adapt to reality. Many Las Vegas residents will face these issues, if they’re not addressing them already.
Look around the city, and you will see a major transformation. Expect these changes not only to continue but to ramp up significantly in the next year or two. Last night at our monthly HOA meeting, we made enormous progress on the mandatory conversion to water-saving desert landscaping.
As President of the HOA, which includes more than 2,200 homes in The Lakes, this has been a very challenging process. Many of us initially moved here and bought homes in The Lakes because it’s one one the greenest areas of Las Vegas. Everywhere and all around, you see tall pine trees (more than 1,000), colored floral bushes, and fields of green grass. Since this area was first developed with Citi Bank in the mid-80’s (hence, “The Lakes, NV”) it’s basically been a “Seattle”-like oasis in the middle of a dry desert, in the midst of a decade-long drought.
Removing grass and installing desert landscaping in such a sprawling district is very expensive, but the only long-term option for water shortages and rising costs. Last night, after many months, even years of discussion and debate, we now appear to have a plan in place to complete the full conversion, much of it completed by end of this year.
Next month will be perhaps the most important association meeting in our history. Final decisions will be made then. A homeowner’s forum will be part of the town hall. An ad hoc committee formed by the WSCA board will present its final recommendations. Our city councilwoman and Las Vegas Mayor candidate Victoria Seaman will even be in attendance. I post this info here and now for all of my neighbors to know so they can attend and participate if they wish. Once these final decisions are made, The Lakes will be transformed permanently.
On a personal note, I have learned so many things by serving on this board and being the President since last Summer. Before, I thought I knew something about city planning, zoning, landscaping, budgets, environmental concerns, and working together as a coalition to build a better community. Now, I realize how little I knew until serving and participating. I share this because HOAs are often blasted for what they do, and each of you who lives in such a community should at least consider serving a term or running for office. The things you will learn might amaze you.
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Note: This is not an official statement from the association, but rather my personal reflections of what’s happening here in The Lakes area.