DAYTON - Traffic concerns continue to hinder residential plans for the Rolling A Ranch.
Citing concerns similar to those expressed during previous applications, the Lyon County Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended denial of a master plan change for 436 acres on the 6,000-acre former cattle ranch. The requested change from low density and agricultural zoning to medium density zoning would allow between 700 to 850 1,200-square-foot residential lots.
Voting 4-2 against the request, the planning commission decision follows a unanimous denial by the Dayton Regional Advisory Council last week.
Advisory council member Dee Scott said the many concerns expressed by local residents need to be addressed before the project is allowed to move forward.
"The master plan changes should be denied until a traffic study is done and other infrastructure needs are addressed. These issues need to be addressed before we are hit with Phase III," he said.
"I don't see that Mr. Bardis (Rolling A Ranch owner) has brought anything to the table that will benefit this community."
River Road resident Bill Driscoll said River Road needs to be made safe before any further development occurs.
"This project has been very hastily put together. Consideration has not been given to resident's concerns. They are going to go down River Road when traffic is backed up and they will be picking people out of the river," Driscoll said.
"We need to look at things from a practical point of view. We need road infrastructure in now to cover emergency and other needs."
County commissioners approved Phase I last year, in spite of numerous concerns with the project's traffic design.
Residents say Highway 50 needs to be widened to four lanes before any further development is allowed and that River Road needs to be widened and brought up to paved standards if the project's traffic patterns are not changed.
J.R. Hildebrand, representing project engineers Thiel Engineering, said traffic designs for Phase I are still being worked on.
"We are working with the Nevada Department of Transportation regarding the intersections with Highway 50," he said. "We could work on an intersection to restrict traffic to River Road."
The developer has agreed to give $100 per lot to the county for use toward future park development.
Advisory council member and River Road resident Glenn Chandler said some lots and the new sewer plant are in the flood plain.
"I saw this area under water two years ago and have pictures to show it," he said. "We will have houses and the sewer plant under water if it gets that high again."
The master plan amendment request will be heard by commissioners on June 2.