Southern Highlands developer wins approval for 17 luxury condos after neighbor objections

The Clark County Commission on Aug. 5 approved a developer’s request to replace 10 existing casitas with three buildings totaling 17 condominium units on a 1.7-acre portion of the Southern Highlands golf course.

Applicant representative Bob Groenauer told commissioners the project would include three buildings — with six, nine and two units respectively — ranging from roughly 1,900 to 5,000 square feet and priced “approximately $4,000,000 per unit all the way up to $10,000,000 per unit.” Groenauer said the plan locates the new buildings within the C-2 area, adds screening for second-floor decks and proposes additional large‑box trees to reduce visual impacts on adjacent yards.

Neighbors who live immediately adjacent to the project urged the board to deny or redesign the plan, arguing the massing and height (up to about 50–53 feet in portions of the design) would harm privacy and neighborhood character. “We are not opposed to the development, but we’re asking for development that is compatible with Southern Highlands standards,” said resident Sue Bhatia, who described a perceived mismatch between the proposed architecture and the existing enclave.

Commissioners discussed code applicability under the county’s Title 29 and Title 30 provisions and the fact that the area adopted portions of Title 30 allowing residential in commercial zones. Commissioner Jones moved to approve the use permit and tentative map with the additional screening and tree‑planting measures the applicant offered; the board voted to approve. The approval includes conditions to add screening on the second‑floor unit and additional large, 48‑inch‑box trees to provide screening; the transcript record included differing references to the exact planting deadline, so the commission’s final recorded condition (the planting timeframe) should be consulted in the county’s official permit file for the definitive deadline.