Three percent growth rate for Carson City

For the 16th year in a row, Carson City is planning for a 3 percent increase in its growth.

Carson City manages its growth by limiting the number of building permits available in the community.

Carson City Community Development Director Walt Sullivan is again recommending that the Carson City Planning Commission approve a maximum of 679 residential building permits for 2001.

Last year, 640 permits were available, of which 340 were used. Sullivan said in any given year, an average of 70 percent of the available permits are used. Last year, only 53 percent were used. Unused permits from last year are not carried over into the new year.

So far this year, about 13 percent of the available 660 permits have been purchased. Last year at the same time about 20 percent of the available permits were taken.

The lower sale of permits for the first five months of the year doesn't bother some people in the building community.

"Most of it on the commercial end is because building season is just starting," said Tom Metcalf, president of the Builders Association of Western Nevada. "The first quarter is always slow on the commercial side, but everything is fine. It looks as good this year as it did last year."

Rising interest rates may keep residential construction down, Metcalf said.

Though Carson has had a growth limit since 1978, the city does not try to limit its population, only the number of new residential dwellings. If met, the 3 percent growth rate would bring an estimated 1,583 people to Carson this year and 1,631 next year.

"Remember, we don't count people, we count homes," Sullivan said. "In a way it does limit the population. The whole emphasis is that we continue to create a system of checks and balances between permits and the services we provide. The 3 percent is directly related to new homes connecting to the city's water and sewer systems."

Homes with private wells and septic systems are not regulated by the city's growth management ordinance.

The city's water and sewer system are the backbone of the city's growth management, but Sullivan asked for responses from city departments and other agencies serving Carson City about how the 3 percent growth rate affects each of them.

He said this year, none had any complaints, although in the past the fire department noted as the population increased, more fire services were needed and the school district scrambles to find room for new students growth brings.

The ordinances laying out the growth management policy were put into place in 1978 as a way to manage the area's infrastructure needs. It was modified in 1984 to allow only for a 3 percent growth rate.

- The planning commission will also consider a request for a development off King Canyon Road and Ormsby Boulevard, which community development staff members are opposing.

Sullivan said the 2 acres where the 10-house development is planned lies in a often-flooded plain.

Sullivan said staff members believes that Lumos & Associates on behalf of Gene Lepire, Jr., owner of Dynamic Diversified Development, hasn't properly addressed the drainage concerns with the property. Lumos & Associates is asking the commission to tentatively approve the Courtyard at Kings Canyon.

"We've seen that site flood many times," Sullivan said. "We've told them we'll work with them, but we're not going to negotiate this on the floor of the planning commission."

Sullivan said staff members are recommending the commission deny the application or continue the item until the drainage issue is addressed.

If you go:

What: Carson City Growth Management Commission and Planning Commission

When: today, 3:30 p.m.

Where: the Community Center's Sierra Room, 851 E. William St.

882-5000