By Vernon Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board (MVTAB) approved a zoning item brought by Overton resident and property owner Kay Leavitt during a meeting on Wednesday, August 1.

The zoning request dealt with a 15.2 acre parcel south of Overton just north of Simplot Road.

Leavitt said that Simplot had expressed interest to him in buying the parcel, which is vacant save for one building.

The parcel is currently zoned as Rural Open Land (R-U) and Leavitt was requesting that it be changed to Light Manufacturing (M-1) industrial zoning. The change would conform to the Clark County Land Use Plan.

Leavitt pointed out that the parcel to the north of his property is zoned as M-1 and that the Simplot parcel to the south is also M-1.

“We are just in the middle,” Leavitt said. “They (Simplot) want to use that property as a buffer zone so they don’t get complaints from the neighbors on it in the future. I don’t know if they will ever do anythiung with it other than as a buffer zone.”

The MVTAB members were generally in agreement with the change. MVTAB member Gene Houston suggested, however, that a condition be placed on the approval that would require a design review if the parcel were ever to be developed for industrial purposes.

MVTAB Chairwoman Judy Metz agreed with this. She made a motion to approve the request with the condition as stated. The motion was passed with a unanimous vote from the board.

In another General Business agenda item Metz talked about complaints received from residents in the Moapa Valley regarding illegal dumping. She cited a specific incident reported by a resident on Paiute Street. A truck reportedly came up to a ditch across the street from their home and dumped trash and rubbish into the ditch, set it on fire and then left it.

“I know that we do Ag burning out here and I’ve got that,” Metz said. “But most people are smart enough to move it away from houses and to have hoses nearby ready for safety purposes. This was on a day when ashes could have blown and anything could have happened.”

Metz cautioned local residents, if doing an Ag burn, to take safety precautions, keeping a hose at the ready and, more importantly, keep the fire a minimum of 100 ft away from any structures.

Metz also reminded that dumping in the desert or in the ditch is against the law. Residents who witness illegal dumping should report it at 702-759-0600.