Las Vegas motion picture studio in Summerlin South takes big step forward
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Clark County Zoning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday morning to support plans for a motion picture studio to be built on 30 acres in Summerlin South bringing the project closer to reality.
The commission reviewed plans for the 13 structures proposed to be built on the site at Flamingo Road and Town Center Drive. The height and locations of the buildings were presented to the commission and how the buildings would be used. The buildings will include indoor stages, production offices, workshops for building props and stage equipment, bungalows, conference rooms, flex space, and storage. There will also be a backlot. The tallest building will be four stories and reach 79 feet.
“If you ask movie star, any producer, any director where they want to film, they are going to say Las Vegas any day of the week and twice on Sunday,” said David O’Reilly, CEO of Howard Hughes Corp.
He said it could bring 10,000 jobs to the valley.
During the public hearing, commissioners heard from unions who support the project and the jobs it will bring to Las Vegas. Film students also spoke in favor of the project saying it would keep film production students from being forced to move to Los Angeles to work.
Recent UNLV film graduate Faith Nault said having local job opportunities is much needed.
“With Howard Hughes and Sony Pictures Entertainment as a filmmaker here in Las Vegas, I am ecstatic for the opportunities and space that can be created with this project and help other young filmmakers like me get the opportunity in our own beautiful state to gain the experiences we need to work in an industry we love.”
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“My partner and I are both actors in Las Vegas and we right now commute to a lot of our jobs and auditions in LA to kind of make the career work,” said actor Shelby Parks, who is in favor of it.
Several people, mostly from the Sienna Neighborhood which borders Flamingo Road and would be across the street from the project, raised concerns about traffic, especially for residents entering or leaving the neighborhood through the Flamingo gate.
“The building height, the wall heights, the driveway switch everything about this is not the norm. It’s the opposite of what is expected on that parcel,” said Grace Likeness who has lived nearby where they would put it for nearly 22 years.
She said she is not against bringing a studio to the valley just not next to where she lives in Summerlin. “It should be located in an area more suitable to those people that want to work there.”
O’Reilly responded to residents’ concerns, telling 8 News Now, “There’s a few local residents that are concerned about traffic and a few other things. We heard them today and we will respond appropriately.”
Commissioner Justin Jones said he was committed to making sure the residents’ concerns would be addressed in future meetings about the project.
“I think this is an opportunity for not only hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and construction jobs … but the permanent jobs, the thousands of additional permanent jobs that are good paying jobs, mostly union jobs,” Jones said.
As for what’s next, developers will need to create designs and apply for advanced permitting. Then they’ll have to ask lawmakers for a special session. Today’s vote passed unanimously by the Zoning Committee.
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