A bold proposal that would turn part of a former rock quarry in central Henderson into a massive mixed-use development won final approval Tuesday with a unanimous City Council vote.

The council also approved a height variance that will allow the Park Heights development to have two 330-foot towers, 100 feet taller than the city's tallest building at present, the 230-foot hotel tower at Sunset Station.

Park Heights will be built on 40 acres on the west side of Stephanie Street, between Wigwam Parkway and the Union Pacific Railroad line.

The Henderson Planning Commission had recommended that Park Heights' two residential towers be limited to 250 feet, and project builder GSG Development had been willing to accept that.

But Mayor James B. Gibson said he saw no reason to cap the height.

"In my view, 330 feet would not be offensive," he said. "I think this project needs to work, however it works best."

Previously, GSG Principal Kenneth Smith had said that limiting the height would change the look of the development from the streamlined presentation made to the city, with the two 330-foot towers at the center, to a squat look.

Councilwoman Gerri Schroder said she warmed up to the idea of 330-foot towers after seeing the site and looking at renderings of how it would look against the skyline.

"Originally, when I first saw this project and I saw 330 feet, I thought it would be too much," she said.

As approved, Park Heights has permission to build up to 1,600 residential units and 851,000 square feet of retail space. It will also have an office building, hotel and civic building that Smith said the city will able to use as it sees fit.

Park Heights will be built adjacent to the city's planned Cornerstone Park, which is being built on the east side of the former rock quarry and will feature a manmade lake at its center.

At the Planning Commission hearing in November, Smith said he plans to move forward with Park Heights and hopes to have the first phase complete in 2011.

"It's a little odd in this timing, with everything that's going on in the macroeconomic situation, to come forth with a project of this size," Smith said. "But we expect that by the time our first phase is up in 2011, it will be a very good time."

Over the years two plans have been floated for the vacant land on the northwest corner of Stephanie Street and Wigwam Parkway in Henderson. Now comes the largest and most stunning proposal yet.

The property sits in prime territory, on a major thoroughfare between the Galleria at Sunset and Interstate 215.

But while most of the surrounding area has been filled with office parks, strip malls and tract homes, this 40-acre former gravel pit remains undeveloped.

In 2001 the city designated it for redevelopment. In 2004 an apartment complex was approved, but it was never built. Two years ago a small mixed-use project was approved for the site. It has since been canceled.

The latest proposal blows those out of the water.

GSG Development wants to built two 30-story towers that would include 1,700 residential units and 851,000 square feet of retail, office and hotel space. The project would also feature a 13-story condominium tower, a 12-story hotel and a 13-story office building.

There would be nothing like it in Henderson.

The project was unveiled this month for the Planning Commission, which will discuss it at its Oct. 16 meeting.

The development faces several hurdles.

Planning commissioners and residents have questioned the amount of road and other infrastructure work needed to handle the huge traffic influx. The city would also have to waive its building height limits for all five of the towers.

And then there.s the matter of the economy and the paralysis among lenders: Where would GSG get the money to build it?

In short, the project seems a long way from being built.

Darby Fitzpatrick, a GSG spokeswoman, declined Thursday to cite the cost of the development or how the company hopes to finance it. In fact, she said, what.s built on the site may end up not looking at all like what was filed with the city.

The plan for an apartment complex across the street from Fiesta Henderson has been unanimously approved by Henderson City Council . but not at the higher density sought by the builder.

The council rejected a request for a special permit that would have allowed Trammel Crow to build 380 units on the 10.5 acres at Lake Mead Parkway and Fiesta Drive. Instead, the city approved a 252-unit project.

Station Casinos, which owns Fiesta Henderson, is selling the land to Trammell Crow.

Earlier this month the Planning Commission recommended allowing the higher density if the developer could prove the project was .workforce housing. by making an agreement guaranteeing Fiesta Henderson employees first dibs on leasing the apartments. They.d be able to walk to work.

The City Council decided not to allow the higher density, citing concerns about traffic in the area. The council added the condition that the apartment complex must be gated.

The North Las Vegas City Council has approved another major project for near Interstate 15 and the Las Vegas Beltway.

The unnamed 544-room hotel at Centennial Parkway and Linn Lane was approved Wednesday night. There was no opposition.

It.s the second time in the past two months that a hotel has been approved for the area many are calling .Casino Alley.. The city hopes the area along I-15 will attract tourists headed into Las Vegas from Utah.

The hotel approved this week does not include gaming. It will have 10 structures on about 12 acres.

Last month the city Planning Commission approved the project with the condition the buildings along Centennial not exceed three stories. The developer also signed a waiver acknowledging activities at the nearby National Guard training grounds can be loud, bright or odorous.

The conditions are similar to those met by the recently approved Miller Casino. That project will include an eight-story hotel and casino on 73 acres at Sloan Lane and I-15.