City to develop new master plan

Carson City is swiftly growing up and out, prompting city planners to ask residents for help designing a new master plan to include possible land acquisition and rezoning.

As it stands, population growth - 2.6 percent annually since 1990 - is forcing Carson City's principal planner Lee Plemel and other city department heads to scrap the old 1996 master plan and come up with a bigger and better alternative.

"This is a huge undertaking," Plemel said. "This is a chance for people to have a say in what they want their city to look like."

In a series of public meetings slated to begin Oct. 18, planners will outline the scope of recent growth. Issues to be discussed include possible land acquisition and zoning changes to allow for new commercial and residential development.

Possible changes are land purchases along the Highway 395 bypass and in the southern end of town near the Champion Speedway racetrack.

Racetrack owner Larry Burton said several offers have been made on his property, and he may sell within the next year.

The city has not made an offer, he said, and he declined to reveal interested parties until the property is sold.

Plemel said the site has potential for high-density residential development.

A re-examination of the Bureau of Land Management's urban interface plan is also in order, he said, to allow for extended urban development and zoning changes.

"We've identified the need to update land use for three years now," Plemel said. "We're approaching a build-out of a community in a valley that has a limited land supply."

Commercial development along vacant land along Highway 50 is also expected.

The parks and recreation chapter of the master plan will include listing needs for facilities and programs, establishing priorities for the development of facilities, and funding sources.

Plemel said city planning has been disjointed, and he hopes renewed coordination between department heads and the public will produce a new plan by late 2005.

"Do we expand our boundaries? Do we build in the surrounding hills or not?" Plemel said. "There are going to be a lot of issues on the table, and we welcome input."

Contact reporter Robyn Moormeister at rmoormeister@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

MASTER PLAN IN A MINUTE

In a series of public meetings slated to begin Oct. 18, Carson City planners will outline the scope of recent growth. Issues to be discussed include possible land acquisition and zoning changes to allow for new commercial and residential development.

Possible changes are land purchases along the Highway 395 extension route and in the southern end of town near the Champion Speedway racetrack.

IF YOU GO

What: Citywide Master Plan public meeting

When: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18

Where: Carson City Community Center, Sierra Room, 851 E. William St.

Call: 877-2180

ON THE NET

www.carsoncitymasterplan.com