Will there be skyscrapers in downtown Carson City?
Probably not in this or any other lifetime. But nothing was entirely off the table Thursday evening as City Hall hosted an open house to share information and ideas on the proposed changes to the city's master plan - essentially an extensive philosophical vision and real-time blueprint for the future development of the city.
"It's all about growth," said Ben Herman of Clarion Associates, a firm contracted by Carson City to aid the local government in reshaping the master plan.
Under the 10 guiding principals of growth detailed in the first phase of the project, residents were asked to take a look at three different scenarios and write comments and opinions on each.
The first plan focuses on compacting urban growth and rebuilding the center and underutilized or vacant areas of the city, building character while leaving much of the surrounding lands intact and free from development.
The second scenario involves a mixture of releasing lands primarily to the east of the city for development and redeveloping areas in specific "activity centers" of the city proper.
The third scenario is a basic urban expansion plan, with the city generally pushing the borders out in all directions.
Each plan includes provisions for making the city more "pedestrian and bike friendly" as well as including the use of some type of safe and logical city-wide public transportation system, according to Herman.
While grumbling was a recognizable dialect of some of those generally interested only in what seemed to be their immediate financial interests, constructive discussions broke out among those truly interested in seeing a higher standard of living for all of Carson City.
Photographer Larry Taylor brought some of his pictures of land he says shouldn't be touched, but knowing that growth is inevitable, offered a solution for places where he thought development would do the least harm.
Though known as a historian and a preservationist, Paula Cannon was concerned with achieving a balance of growth and a growth of balance. Like most in attendance, her loyalties were to whatever will continue to keep Carson City healthy, beautiful and the kind of place where people want to live.
- Contact reporter Peter Thompson at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.
