AFCU Overton Branch Plans Approved

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

The America First Credit Union building in downtown Overton is slated for, not just an update, but an entire replacement. The new plans, released by the company last week, show a new and modern design that stands to transform the streetscape of the old business district.

At a meeting held on Wednesday evening, Dec. 13, the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board reviewed the plans and recommended approval. The documents were scheduled to go before the County Planning Commission for approval on Tuesday, Dec. 19 in Las Vegas.

The plans presented to the MVTAB last week call for the completed demolition of all of the current structures on the site to make way for an entirely new site plan.

An all-new 2,948 square foot credit union building is planned to be constructed on the northwest corner of the parcel. The building would sport the distinctive “Prizmatic Blue” color that is consistent with the most current AFCU branding materials. Entry to the building would face the south where the parking lot will be located.

The plans include an updated drive up window with a drive up ATM on the east of the parcel. However a generous landscaped buffer, with fencing will separate this feature from the residence immediately to the east of the credit union property.

As proposed, the plans required a number of waivers to development standards which were being requested in the agenda item. Several elements of the design were outside of the standards set forth by the Moapa Valley Overlay District. The waivers included elements like the entrance not facing the main street, attached sidewalk and alternative streetscaping, bright exterior colors that were not “muted desert hues, an internally illuminated monument sign, animated signage and wall signs on the building – all of which are not in keeping with the overlay.

MVTAB members expressed willingness to grant all of the waivers except the animated sign element.
Tim Snideman of AFCU explained that the newer branches typically have an LED screen which rotates through advertisements for promotions such as CD rates and loan products.

Board members were not excited about the idea. “We don’t have animated signs on our main street for a reason,” said MVTAB member Brian Burris. “There are some things that we kind of want to keep a little bit more down home and this, for me, is one.”

Other board members agreed. Snideman responded that the credit union was not insistent on the animated signage being included. “On behalf of America First, I would say that if that is something we need to give up and have a static sign, we are more than happy to do that,” he said.

With all the existing credit union buildings being slated for demolition before construction could proceed, Burris asked if provisions were being made to continue meeting local customer needs during the project.

Snideman responded that the company planned to install a double wide temporary trailer structure on the site so that credit union operations could continue throughout construction. All credit union employees would be retained throughout the project, he added.
“We really try to help the community and to service the community throughout the entire project,” he said.

Finally Burris asked what the expected timeline for the project would be. Snideman responded that it depended on the county permit process that was still ongoing. If all went well, the company expects to begin work on the project within the next six months, he said.
“But that is all dependent on the Clark County process,” he added. “Once begun it is going to be about a seven month build from start to finish, though.”

Burris made a motion to approve the items as proposed with the exception of the animated signage which the company had agreed to eliminate.
The motion carried with a unanimous vote of the board.

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