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Wynn's Plans for Desert Inn Site Clear Planning Commission

Steve Wynn's plans for a water-themed megaresort to transform the 51-year-old Desert Inn cleared the Clark County Planning Commission Thursday evening despite complaints from neighboring homeowners.

The commission voted 6-0 to approve Wynn's plans to build a 2,455-suite, 45-story hotel tower with a 4-acre lake and 323,000 square feet of casino, retail and convention space.

Although Wynn didn't appear, his land-use specialist Greg Borgel, a former county zoning administrator, told the panel that the megaresort and its curved hotel tower would be a unique drawing card for Las Vegas.

"This will be another great hotel," Borgel said. "It will hopefully spur development on the north-central part of the Strip like his earlier projects spurred development. The tower will be more aesthetically pleasing than the traditional tower"

Two residents of the neighboring Desert Inn Estates objected to the commission's original plan to follow county staffers' recommendation to approve Wynn's project without discussion, and the homeowners were allowed to discuss their concerns.

"We have very limited information on the project even though we're neighbors," said Stephanie Swain, who owns a home on Country Club Lane and is involved in a lawsuit fighting Wynn's development company's plans to buy and demolish the homes that border the Desert Inn golf course.

"We seem to be the last to know," Swain said. "We're pleased Steve Wynn is building a hotel. We just want to know how the plans effect us." Borgel assured the women that the development wouldn't affect the homeowners.

Several commissioners took pains to explain to Swain and fellow homeowner Sharon Greenbaum that the panel's decision was only on Wynn's proposed development.

"We're only doing the planning and zoning," commissioner Dick Bonar said. "This won't affect your litigation."

"I apologize for wasting your time," replied Greenbaum. "We just don't know what they're really going to do."

Thursday night's appearance probably won't be the last for Wynn as he seeks approval for his developing plans, Wynn Resorts spokesman Billy Vassiliadis said after the vote.

"I think you'll see evolutions and improvements," Vassiliadis said. "Mr. Wynn is a perfectionist, and if he decides the project needs something else he'll make the change."

Vassiliadis refused to discuss the project's name, theme, cost or timetable, but promised that raising money to build the project won't be a problem.

"I haven't sensed Mr. Wynn having a second of concern about financing," he said.

The projects Wynn built as chairman of Mirage Resorts, including The Mirage and Bellagio, gave a major boost to Las Vegas tourism, Vassiliadis said.

"We're a year since the last major opening (at Aladdin) and I'm sure this property will generate another bump," he said. "This will be a spur for north Strip development because it will be a must-see property."

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