The Clark County Commission approved amended use permits June 4 to allow recreation, entertainment and museum uses at the Underground Mansion on Spencer Street in Paradise, contingent on specified public-works and neighborhood protections.

The decision clears amended use permits and associated waivers and design reviews the applicant sought to offer guided tours, entertainment events and museum programming in the site’s underground spaces, but commissioners required driveway and visibility fixes and a one-year review of neighborhood impacts after the business license is issued.

Frankie Lewis, who identified herself as the property’s local representative, told commissioners the site contains an underground residence and event space built by Jerry and Mary Henderson and described plans to offer private historical tours, photography workshops and community fundraisers. Lewis said the underground structure sits 26 feet below grade, encompasses a large subterranean living area she described as 16,000 square feet and that the owners have arranged off-site parking “across the street” with insurance.

Antonio, a public-works representative, told the commission the northerly driveway on Spencer Street must be reconstructed because it is only 18 feet wide and “2 trucks cannot ingress, egress at the same time.” He also said the property cannot be granted a waiver for site visibility because “the site visibility zone is there so that you could egress the property safely when you come on to Spencer,” and noted that a traffic study will be required if the applicant requests a mid-block crosswalk on Spencer.

Commissioners recorded a condition for a one-year review after issuance of the business license to monitor potential neighborhood parking impacts. During the hearing, a commissioner read into the record that the applicant had worked with neighbors to limit impacts, including closing an off-street exit to emergency use only and arranging off-site parking.

The record also shows the commission denied waiver standard number 8 related to permitting a residential pan driveway in a commercial-use context; the chair moved approval of the application with the recorded conditions and the motion passed.

The approved permits and waivers include entertainment and recreational uses, a museum permit and design reviews; the applicant still must meet building, traffic and business-licensing requirements and any other conditions stated in the staff report before operating. The county staff emphasized that required public-works improvements and the traffic study must demonstrate safe egress and justify any crosswalks on Spencer Street.

If the owners proceed, the county will monitor the site under the one-year review and may revisit permit conditions if neighborhood impacts arise.