MTAB Member Responds To Editor’s Column

By NICK YAMASHITA

The Progress

At a meeting of the Moapa Town Advisory Board (MTAB) held on Tuesday, Feb. 24, a formal response was made to an editorial column written by The Progress editor Vernon Robison which appeared in the Feb. 17 edition of the newspaper.

During an early board comment period of the meeting, MTAB member Bob Lyman said that he felt he needed to respond to the column which had been entitled, “‘Those Vegas People,’ We DO Need Them.”

In the column, Robison had talked about comments frequently made by community leaders and residents in both Moapa and Moapa Valley communities when faced with development and growth. The column specifically mentioned a matter brought at a Feb. 9 MTAB meeting where a developer proposed a conforming zone change from a zoning allowing only 1 residential unit per 2 acres to a zoning for 2 units per acre.

But the column spoke more broadly about an apparent fear expressed in both communities regarding urban residents moving to the community and bringing in their “big city problems.” The editorial emphasized the good that recent move-ins had brought to the community and it surmised that more such development would bring additional benefits.

Lyman wanted to go on record in the Feb. 24 meeting to say that the editorial did not portray the views of the MTAB correctly regarding the subject of growth.

“To my recollection, nobody on the board said that we don’t want people moving in from outside,” Lyman said. “I am thrilled with all of my new neighbors that I have come to know in the valley.”

Lyman emphasized that, as a town board member, he feels very positive toward growth when it is done in a responsible way.
“I just want to clarify that (the editorial) was not, in my opinion, the position of the town board, but of some of the people here making comments,” Lyman stated.”

The theme of growth seemed to continue in the meeting. During public comment, Lyman’s wife, Dr. Shari Lyman, proposed that an agenda item be considered which would discuss the formation of “neighborhood historical preservation boards” for Moapa. These boards would offer insight into growth situations in the town as well as help to preserve the rural history of the community, Lyman said.

Dr. Lyman suggested that this item be placed for discussion on the next meeting’s agenda.
The main items on the agenda for the evening pertained to an existing gravel pit and batch plant owned by the Lewis Family Trust and located on the east side of Interstate 15.

The applicant was required to submit a review of Use Permits, Waiver of Development Standards and Design Reviews for the operation.

The item also reviewed a reduction in the required separation of the gravel pit and batch plant from a residential use. The plant fall within the 1,000 feet of residential areas which is less than the separation standard required.

The request also involved an amendment to the Transportation Element of the Clark County Comprehensive Master Plan by removing 80 foot and 100 foot right of ways between I-15 and Lewis Ranch Road and Dude Drive. All of these are on private property owned by the Lewis Trust.

The final request was to vacate and abandon the right of way on private property.
All three of the requests were passed by the board unanimously.

During a final public comment period, Lon Dalley of the Moapa Valley Water District took a few moments to explain recent repairs made to water lines which have caused bumps in the road along Henrie Road. Dalley explained that these road fixes are not meant to be permanent.

The district has an arrangement with the county to do temporary paving fixes on county roads until a number of those fixes accumulate on the road, Dalley said. Then the district can contract a paving company to do several permanent fixes all at once. This saves a significant amount of money for the ratepayers, Dalley said.