Master Plan revision ready for public viewing

DAYTON -- The long awaited Mound House-Dayton land use master plan is finally ready for public scrutiny.

The first of four public hearings is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Dayton Community Center.

Intended as a guide for future land development along the Highway 50 corridor from the Carson City/Lyon County line to the Mark Twain area, a 13-member volunteer committee of property owners and developers, has held numerous meetings over the past two years. Working under the direction of professional planning consultant Greg Evangelatos and Lyon County Community Development Director John Evasovic, the committee determined it is now time to present the tentative map to the public.

The map is the committee's sixth revision of the land use proposal. Among the several revisions was the at the recommendation of Evasovic to eliminate a proposed "brothel" land use designation in favor of including it within uses allowed under "industrial" zoning. The committee also debated locations of industrial and commercial zones and the adopted use of specific residential zoning densities in place of more generalized low, medium and high density designations. A special "RV Park" designation as a buffer between the Mound House industrial area and a residential subdivision remains on the map, despite some objections.

According to Evangelatos, a projected build out under the guidelines of the proposal could result in more than 70,000 residents living within the west central Lyon County corridor in the next 50 years. However, master plans do not establish zonings, but are used only as a guideline from which zoning designations may be determined.

Originally intended to be completed by April 2001, the costs of the extended undertaking have also exceeded Evangelatos' $25,000 contract. On Feb. 6, Evangelatos requested an additional $7,500 to cover work completed over and above the contract, plus an additional $3,500 for additional work. On Thursday, Commissioners postponed taking action on the requests.

Under state law, master plans must be reviewed every 10 years. The current countywide plan was adopted in 1990.

Future public hearings are scheduled in Mound House on March 13, in Silver City on March 27, and, a final meeting in Dayton on April 10. The plan will then be presented to the county commissioners for final approval.

For information call the County Community Development office at 577-5035.