By VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
The Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board approved two out of three requests for waivers of development standards on a proposed minor subdivision map for a lot on Paul Ave. and Yamashita St. just south of Moapa Valley High School during a meeting held Wednesday, March 15.
The applicant for the waiver, who was presenting at the meeting was Casey Rawson. Rawson said that he wished to split the 2-acre lot into two equal parcels.
“The plan is that I would build a house in the near future,” Rawson said. “And then my sister-in-law would be able to build a bit later on the other property.”
In approaching the county, Rawson said he ran into several hurdles that didn’t seem to fit his situation. These included a requirement to do full off-site improvements on the south side of Paul Ave. including curb, gutter, sidewalk, streelights and partial paving.
In addition, there was a requirement to set aside land on the perimeter of the lots for landscaping and buffering, including detached sidewalks, landscaping and a 6-foot tall decorative wall along the right of way.
Finally the code required a drainage study to be done before the subdivision could be complete.
“The county staff said that we wouldn’t be able to do this without meeting these standards, or coming to you for a waiver on them,” Rawson said.
During public comment, Dieter Stussy, a neighbor who lives on Ron Ave., to the south of the parcel, expressed opposition to waiving the drainage study.
Stussy said he had no problem with the other two waivers, which he stated were unnecessary. But he added that there is an existing drainage problem from the parcel which affects his own property to the south. For this reason, he felt the drainage study should be required.
“We have a drainage problem caused by the output of a drain that (County) public works put in just south of Paul Ave,” Stussy said.
Rawson said that the drain area had been taken by the county as a public right of way.
Rawson acknowledged that a drainage study would need to be done. But he was asking to defer that study until the time when he starts building. “I don’t plan on even building on the property for probably another five years or so,” he said.
Stussy showed photos of erosion damage to his parcel, and that of his neighbor, which he said was caused by runoff from that drain.
“I am aware that he wants to defer the study until actual construction takes place,” Stussy said. “But I’m not certain that is an adequate resolution. We have the problem now.”
MVTAB chairwoman Janice Ridondo said that the drainage study would have to be done before Rawson could get a building license. In addition, she pointed out that the drain problem was not of Rawson’s making.
“This is a public works issue,” Ridondo said. “It is separate from this gentleman. He obviously has every right to develop his property.”
Stussy acknowledged all of this. “I just don’t want his development to compound the problem,” he said. “And that is why I oppose it.”
Amidst all of this, board members were also hesitant to allow the waiver on the drainage study.
“Before you subdivide, you probably ought to know your drainages,” said MVTAB member Brian Burris. “If we issue the subdivision and all of a sudden your drainage ends up between your two houses, it is all for naught.”
All board members agreed that the other two waivers should be granted. They said that there would be no reason for sidewalk, streetlights and other off-sites at that location.
“It makes no sense to go 200 feet of sidewalk and then no sidewalk on either side of it,” said MVTAB member Jill Williams-Perkins. “Besides there is already curb, gutter and sidewalks right across the street at the high school. So there is no point to having it on both sides.”
Burris made a motion to deny the request for a waiver of the drainage study but to approve the other two waivers. The vote to accept the motion was unanimous.
