By Mike Donahue
Moapa Valley Progress
The Clark County Comprehensive Planning Department has fine tuned its Land Use Plan for communities in the northeast area of the county incorporating some noteworthy changes.
Kevin Smedley, principal planner in the department, gave a draft of the updated plan to the Moapa Town Board during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 31. Smedley said the proposed changes will be presented to the public during an open house “at the end of August or the first of September.”
The purpose of the Land Use Plan is to serve as a “pattern and guide for the orderly physical growth and development of Clark County.” It is updated every five years.
One of the more comprehensive changes in the proposed plan is the total elimination of the Yucca Mountain section.
Conversely, the department added a completely new section to the plan called “Sustainability.” It’s based on the “Eco-County Initiative Resolution” passed by commissioners in 2008 to “address the quality of life in Clark County through sustainability.”
“In a sustainable state, consumption of resources is in balance with nature’s ability to replenish them,” the section states. Subsections include air quality, water, land use/habitat protection, waste reduction/recycling, transportation, green building and energy.
There were changes made to several other sections and areas of the plan which included additions of words or phrases. There were also other complete sections added.
One especially significant section new to the Land Use Plan, which could have a major impact on construction locally, is called “Moapa Valley Overlay District.”
The new sections states: “The Moapa Valley Overlay District is established to impose additional design standards within the Moapa Valley Town boundary to promote development that will maintain and enhance the environment and rural character of the Logandale and Overton areas. See Title 30.48, Part L for details.”
Another added section that seems to go hand-in-hand with the overlay district is listed under “Opportunities” in Chapter Two of the plan.
“Building on and maintaining the pastoral setting of Northeast Clark County communities may create opportunities to provide goods and services that could increase employment opportunities for local residents, such as organic produce or arts and cultural programs,” it states.
In other action during the regular Moapa Town Board meeting, members heard a plan from Chuck James, of the county’s real property management department, to construct a 40X40-foot concession stand, storage area and restroom facility near the town’s current outdoor athletic field.
The main points agreed on in the meeting was that everyone agreed on the proposed location for the building; construction will not be a standard restroom facility but will be tailored to fit the town’s need, and James has the go-ahead to make sure there is enough money available in city coffers to pay for the construction.
Additionally, the board received approval from Janice Ridondo the county’s liaison, to send certified letters to residents with overgrown property demanding compliance with county fire-prevention ordinances The letter will warn owners that if they fail to clean up their property, the matter will be turned over to the county’s code enforcement officer.
