Planning Commission backs rezoning for Rice Reservoir pump station despite neighbor objections

The City of Las Vegas Planning Commission on Sept. 9 recommended approval of a rezoning and site-development plan that would permit the Southern Nevada Water Authority and Las Vegas Valley Water District to build a new pump station at the Rice Reservoir site near Oakey Boulevard and Rainbow.

Southern Nevada Water Authority representative Robin Rockey told the commission the project is part of regional "reliability projects" intended to strengthen the valley's water delivery network. Rockey said the new connection will require "a new 30,000,000 gallon per day pumping station at the Rice site," co-located on the existing reservoir property. She described the station as a redundancy and reliability improvement; construction is expected to start in May 2027 and finish by May 2030.

Neighbors who live directly adjacent to the site spoke in opposition to rezoning the property from Residence Estates (RE) to Civic. Multiple residents asked that existing chain link and barbed-wire fencing be replaced with decorative walls and landscaping and that any new construction respect existing view corridors. "To rezone this property is an extreme government overreach to usurp all adjacent property owners' rights," one resident said during public comment, reading a prepared statement that urged denial of rezoning. Other neighbors said they do not object to the water authority's operations but do object to a permanent zoning change.

Staff and commissioners responded that the rezoning is a conforming change to match the property's general plan designation as a public facility. Commissioner Rogan noted standards in Title 19 require adjacency and wall/landscape standards; he recommended the applicant work with neighbors to resolve wall and landscaping concerns before the City Council hearing. Planning staff reiterated that Title 19 standards on walls and screening apply and that the site-development plan ultimately defines approved site details.

On a motion by Commissioner Rogan the commission voted to recommend approval of the rezoning (25-0215 ZON1) and site-development plan (25-0215 SDR1). The motion carried; the item will go to City Council Oct. 15 for final action.

Project and procedural details included in the staff presentation: the pump station will be an open-air pumping station with an enclosed operations building and surge control; the proposed facilities are placed at the far east side of the Rice site, away from the Montessori school to the west; the site will remain unmanned except for periodic operator visits; landscaping, security walls and access will be replaced or repaired following construction. Staff recommended approval, citing minimal impacts to surrounding residential and commercial uses and the project's role in improving water supply reliability.