The rezone is related to the Boulder Highway Investment Strategy, which was adopted by the City Council in December as part of an effort to upgrade economic viability. The plan was prompted by the Regional Transportation Commission's plan to create a rapid bus transit route on Boulder Highway, a construction project heretofore slated to get underway this fall and be up and running in early 2011.

"The goal of changing the zoning in one legislative act is to [prepare the area] for investment so developers will be able to take advantage of the new standards without going through the lengthy zone change process," states a memo from city planners to the Council.

The Investment Strategy envisions a more pedestrian-friendly, live-work, transit-oriented environment, with parking in the rear and storefronts opening onto covered, tree-lined sidewalks and a roadway divided by park blocks. The pre-existing zoning allowed for a wide variety of commercial uses. The new zoning adds in a variety of residential product types to encourage infill development along the corridor.

The rezone does not include that portion of the Boulder Highway widely known as the Boulder Strip, which sits in Clark County between Tropicana Avenue and Sahara Avenue and is known for its concentration of locals' casinos, hotels and motels. The Henderson portion of the Boulder Highway also is home to several casinos but they are more scattered, a Henderson city source tells GlobeSt.com.