Here are a couple of comments - please send me yours - Dave Carlson Project Manager
dcarlson@co.clark.nv.us
“Reduce the development area space east of Bowman and Overton Airport and both sides of Mormon Mesa Road – keep it recreational. If dotted with subdivisions and/or residential, it will then become an undesirable area a la Red Rock Canyon or St. George. The areas designated contribute to the beauty fronting the overall look of the Mormon Mesa Valley! The scenic beauty once overdeveloped will negate the unmeasureable contributions of the beauty here. Once gone it is gone! There is plenty of open space surrounding Moapa Valley Blvd.” [for development].
“While I know it is unrealistic to expect nothing to happen, both my husband's and my preference is to conserve as much of the disposable land as possible. If development eventually occurs, we would prefer to see large parcels and fewer homes done in a ranch-style type of set up over the usual concept of the more the better that normally takes place. It would be a crime to see 1000's of homes all on top of each other. There should be lots of open space/green space areas designated. If, to achieve this goal, it means "creating" more environmentally-protected areas, we are both for that.”
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
MV Open Space Draft Plan Presented; Public Input Sought
By Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley ProgressPublished June 3, 2009A public meeting was held on Wednesday, May 27 to update Moapa Valley residents on the progress of an open space masterplan that is currently underway and to get community input on it. The Moapa Valley Open Space plan, which is being conducted by land planning consulting company EDAW, will give a loose framework for the future development of 11,000 acres of BLM disposal land on the eastern bench of the lower Moapa Valley.
EDAW representative Jeremy Call stated the goals of the meeting to an audience of about 30 people. "This is a beautiful area and I have become very fond of it," Call said. "But I don't live here. You do. It is important that we plan for this land the way that you want it. You'll have to live with it when we are all finished."Call said that he had sought feedback from many local individuals and groups on what the goals of the project should be. "We have heard comments on a number of elements come back again and again from you," Call said. These goals included protecting important natural habitats and viewsheds, maintaining access to federal lands, identifying specific areas appropriate for off highway vehicle (OHV) use, identifying areas for future development and developing strategies for protecting, conveying and managing open space.
Driven by these goals, Call said that his group had worked to develop a model for specifying land use in the BLM disposal area. Carefully studying the land's topography and resources, they identified areas that were less suitable for development and areas where development would best occur. In doing so, an inventory of the land had been done in several different topics of interest, Call said. A biological assessment had been made to recognize land areas that contain a large number of sensitive plant and animal species. A scenery assessment was completed to quantify the land in terms of its scenic value and to identify the lands that should be preserved as viewshed areas. The topography of the land was also carefully examined to identify areas with steep slopes that would not be ideal for development. An inventory of trails in the area was taken in the disposal area as well as the BLM lands beyond on the Mormon mesa.
The study also accounts for county maps that show planned land use and transportation elements projected for the area. An inventory was also taken showing all existing utility right-of-ways as well as any pending applications for rights-of-way. This included existing power lines as well as large tracts of land on the Mormon Mesa that have been filed on for a possible future solar power generation plant.
Finally the study took into account feedback from the public on land that was considered valuable enough to keep open. Call listed the areas that had appeared in many of the public comments. These included the hills on the north end of the valley that formed what Call termed the "gateway to the community". Also on the list was the Bowman Reservoir area, the Mormon Mesa and various washes. Also included was the request for an OHV use area which has been set aside specifically for free OHV use.
Taking all of the data and input, Call said that his group had come up with a draft concept plan for the Open Space plan. The draft concept divided the 11,000 acres into areas of several different general uses. The first division was called Core Open Space. The draft plan suggested that this land remain open because of some element(s) that made it less suitable for development. These elements might include sharp slopes and rough topography, flood control issues, historical and cultural significance or the existence of endangered species. The next division was called Active Open Space. These were areas that have traditionally been recreation areas and had been specifically requested by the public to remain that way. A large block of land just north of Bowman Reservoir was identified on the draft plans as an open OHV play area. Another area in the hills just east of the high school was set aside because it has traditionally been used as a cross country 5K running course. Other similar areas were set aside for recreational purposes.
The arterial transportation network was also included in the draft concept. This included all of the main arterial streets currently planned for on the County transportation element. Included in this is a valley bypass highway which would begin at Lewis Ave. at the south end of Overton, pass through the BLM disposal land and connect with the state highway north of the Bowman Reservoir. Another alternate route included in the transportation element would travel north from Yamashita Street and connect with the I-15 at the Carp/Elgin exit.
Trails were also a major component of the concept plan. A network of non-motorized trails were pencilled in which connected existing developed area with the future developments within the disposal lands. Motorized trails were also drawn to get people through the future neighborhoods to the BLM lands beyond. A north-south motorized trail access was also proposed.
After these open space areas had been marked off on the map, all that was left was considered as the future development areas. This allowed for only about 25% of the whole 11,000 acres to be developable, a total of about 3,000 acres. County project manager, Dave Carlson, stated that this would be a challenge. "If the land goes to auction as it is there is no way that a developer is going to dedicate 75% of the land he just bought to open space," Carlson said. The only hope for that would be for the county to go in as a public entity and acquire rights to the proposed open space areas prior to the land sale, Carlson said. "So once the planning process is complete, if the Town Board approves it, we then go to the BLM and try to find a way to get that done," Carlson said.
Carlson concluded by saying that the planning process was still far from over. As EDAW continues with that process, public input in the plan is vitally important to make sure that the final document accurately presents the community's wishes, Carlson said. Information about the plan along with detailed maps are available at www.moapavalleyopenspace.com. The public is welcome to review this information and provide feedback there.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! Comment on this story. Send a letter to the editor by email, click here: EMAIL US
Moapa Valley ProgressPublished June 3, 2009A public meeting was held on Wednesday, May 27 to update Moapa Valley residents on the progress of an open space masterplan that is currently underway and to get community input on it. The Moapa Valley Open Space plan, which is being conducted by land planning consulting company EDAW, will give a loose framework for the future development of 11,000 acres of BLM disposal land on the eastern bench of the lower Moapa Valley.
EDAW representative Jeremy Call stated the goals of the meeting to an audience of about 30 people. "This is a beautiful area and I have become very fond of it," Call said. "But I don't live here. You do. It is important that we plan for this land the way that you want it. You'll have to live with it when we are all finished."Call said that he had sought feedback from many local individuals and groups on what the goals of the project should be. "We have heard comments on a number of elements come back again and again from you," Call said. These goals included protecting important natural habitats and viewsheds, maintaining access to federal lands, identifying specific areas appropriate for off highway vehicle (OHV) use, identifying areas for future development and developing strategies for protecting, conveying and managing open space.
Driven by these goals, Call said that his group had worked to develop a model for specifying land use in the BLM disposal area. Carefully studying the land's topography and resources, they identified areas that were less suitable for development and areas where development would best occur. In doing so, an inventory of the land had been done in several different topics of interest, Call said. A biological assessment had been made to recognize land areas that contain a large number of sensitive plant and animal species. A scenery assessment was completed to quantify the land in terms of its scenic value and to identify the lands that should be preserved as viewshed areas. The topography of the land was also carefully examined to identify areas with steep slopes that would not be ideal for development. An inventory of trails in the area was taken in the disposal area as well as the BLM lands beyond on the Mormon mesa.
The study also accounts for county maps that show planned land use and transportation elements projected for the area. An inventory was also taken showing all existing utility right-of-ways as well as any pending applications for rights-of-way. This included existing power lines as well as large tracts of land on the Mormon Mesa that have been filed on for a possible future solar power generation plant.
Finally the study took into account feedback from the public on land that was considered valuable enough to keep open. Call listed the areas that had appeared in many of the public comments. These included the hills on the north end of the valley that formed what Call termed the "gateway to the community". Also on the list was the Bowman Reservoir area, the Mormon Mesa and various washes. Also included was the request for an OHV use area which has been set aside specifically for free OHV use.
Taking all of the data and input, Call said that his group had come up with a draft concept plan for the Open Space plan. The draft concept divided the 11,000 acres into areas of several different general uses. The first division was called Core Open Space. The draft plan suggested that this land remain open because of some element(s) that made it less suitable for development. These elements might include sharp slopes and rough topography, flood control issues, historical and cultural significance or the existence of endangered species. The next division was called Active Open Space. These were areas that have traditionally been recreation areas and had been specifically requested by the public to remain that way. A large block of land just north of Bowman Reservoir was identified on the draft plans as an open OHV play area. Another area in the hills just east of the high school was set aside because it has traditionally been used as a cross country 5K running course. Other similar areas were set aside for recreational purposes.
The arterial transportation network was also included in the draft concept. This included all of the main arterial streets currently planned for on the County transportation element. Included in this is a valley bypass highway which would begin at Lewis Ave. at the south end of Overton, pass through the BLM disposal land and connect with the state highway north of the Bowman Reservoir. Another alternate route included in the transportation element would travel north from Yamashita Street and connect with the I-15 at the Carp/Elgin exit.
Trails were also a major component of the concept plan. A network of non-motorized trails were pencilled in which connected existing developed area with the future developments within the disposal lands. Motorized trails were also drawn to get people through the future neighborhoods to the BLM lands beyond. A north-south motorized trail access was also proposed.
After these open space areas had been marked off on the map, all that was left was considered as the future development areas. This allowed for only about 25% of the whole 11,000 acres to be developable, a total of about 3,000 acres. County project manager, Dave Carlson, stated that this would be a challenge. "If the land goes to auction as it is there is no way that a developer is going to dedicate 75% of the land he just bought to open space," Carlson said. The only hope for that would be for the county to go in as a public entity and acquire rights to the proposed open space areas prior to the land sale, Carlson said. "So once the planning process is complete, if the Town Board approves it, we then go to the BLM and try to find a way to get that done," Carlson said.
Carlson concluded by saying that the planning process was still far from over. As EDAW continues with that process, public input in the plan is vitally important to make sure that the final document accurately presents the community's wishes, Carlson said. Information about the plan along with detailed maps are available at www.moapavalleyopenspace.com. The public is welcome to review this information and provide feedback there.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! Comment on this story. Send a letter to the editor by email, click here: EMAIL US
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