Facing strong opposition from area residents, the Century Oak Land Co. didn't push too hard for the master plan amendment and zone change it had requested from the Lyon County commissioners.
The company was hoping to change the master plan on 44.43 acres at 12525 Highway 50 East in Stagecoach, near the former Dayton Valley Turf sod farm, from low-density residential to commercial, and change the zoning district from RR-5, or 20-acre minimum to C-2, or general commercial.
According to Stagecoach resident Betty Retzer, who hosted a meeting in her home last month that attracted 35 people, many residents are opposed to the changes.
"People don't want commercial in their front yard," Retzer said. "This is just the start of what we are going to be seeing in our community."
She said residents are concerned about density, water availability and the impact on wild horses.
"We don't want another Santa Maria thing," in which horses are rounded up by the state, she said.
The commissioners denied the motion without prejudice, so it can be brought up again if the company manages to assuage local concerns.
"We believe commercial use is a better use than residential," said Dennis Smith, of Western Engineering, who represents the land company, but added that he wanted more time to work with the residents.
The same requests had been denied by the Lyon County Planning Commission on the grounds they were not consistent with master plan goals and were incompatible with residential areas.
Retzer said she was unwilling to accept commercial development on that lot, but would consider residential with a five-acre minimum.
"In my heart, I wish it would stay as large a parcel as possible," she said. "We've been fat, dumb and happy sitting here with the sod farm when we first received notice of a change from 20-acre residential to two-acre residential."
That request was turned down last year, Retzer said.
• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.