marlene karas/VIEW Walter Cairns, the county?s principal South County planner, left, talks with Naomi Seaton and her husband, Donald, as they look at plan maps during a review session at the Boulder City Senior Center, Jan. 7. The Seatons live in Nelson and made the 30-mile drive to see what is in store for their town.
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Clark County planners returned to Boulder City for the second time in five months on Jan. 7 to have a follow-up workshop on amendments to the South County Land Use Plan.
More than 40 people showed up at the Senior Center to talk to the South County planning staff and view changes on the Eldorado Valley and Nelson maps made following the first workshop in September.
It was at that initial gathering where most survey respondents, with a few exceptions, stated they wanted Eldorado Valley to be left alone.
"What we did was we had existing uses that were not reflected on the land use plan," said Walter Cairns, the county's principal planner for the plan's update. "So we had to reflect those uses on the map. Our biggest concern was residential happening out there (in Eldorado Valley). I don't think anybody in Boulder City wants residential there. On a staff level, we don't want to see it either because it would put a strain on our resources and infrastructure."
The current land use plan shows three heavy industrial parcels and one light industrial parcel with everything else being open space or within the city limits when, in actuality, there are other uses in Eldorado Valley.
The draft map up for consideration now shows 12 heavy industrial properties, four business and design research park parcels with the rest open space or belonging to Boulder City.
The biggest difference between the maps is that the four quarry pits -- Silver State Materials, Quarry 187, American Asphalt & Grading and Rinker Materials -- would be rezoned as heavy industrial instead of their current classification of open space.
"I think it's a good idea, because they sure need it," said workshop participant Maurice Threinen, an officer of Eldorado Land Corp., which owns a nine-acre parcel that will retain its heavy industrial zoning. "Boulder City is like a dog in a manger; they need to get a hold of what's happening around here."
Another person who was pleased to see the draft changes made in the plan was the city's representative on the Community Development Advisory Committee, which reviews Community Development Block Grant applications.
"I think what they've done is real good," Harold Begley said. "The land use policies and goals established certainly are what we'd like to see happen. I still have a little bit of concern as to the areas being rezoned by the County Commission, but overall I think they've done a real good job."
Whatever comments and results county planners gained Jan. 7 will be reflected in another update that will be the subject of a third Boulder City open house meeting to be held in March on an as-yet-unknown date.
"After tonight, we'll take it to the Technical Advisory Committee, which is made up various service providers like the water district, the fire department, Metro, Nevada Power and others, and we'll get their input and have a concept plan for the open house," Cairns said. "We'll get more public input then, which will be the final step in the workshop process. Then, in May, we expect to have a first public hearing on the updated plan with the Planning Commission and final adoption by the County Commission in June, but that's subject to change."
Residents who didn't attend the second workshop can still provide comments on the amendments to the South County Land Use Plan, so long as they get them in to the planners by Feb. 8.
Comments can be sent by e-mail to Cairns at wec@co.clark.nv.us, to Bob Klein at rxk@co.clark.nv.us or by letter, with or without an exhibit, to Walter Cairns, Principal Planner, Clark County Comprehensive Planning Department, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., P.O. Box 551741, Las Vegas, NV 89155-1741.
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