MARK WAITE / PVT Nadine Bolling stands next to a horse corral on her property on Mesquite Avenue and Murphy Street. Property owners in the northwest part of the Pahrump Valley are complaining about ambitious development plans. Advertisement

The northwest side of Pahrump Valley is several miles away from the rapid development targeting the southern end.

Clumps of mesquite trees line the appropriately named Mesquite Avenue near dirt all-terrain vehicle tracks, and craggy High Peak looms over the barren desert scene to the northwest.

If developers have their way, the tranquil scene could be transformed into hundreds of residential lots and townhouses.

Residents echoed a similar refrain in their opposition to development plans before the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Aug. 9.

The objectors had mixed luck. The RPC voted 4-2 to recommend approval of a zoning change to allow an apartment complex of 442 units on 50 acres of property on the northeast corner of Bell Vista Avenue and Linda Street. Town board members Laurayne Murray and Andrew "Butch" Borasky voted not to recommend approval to the Nye County Commission. Commercial development would be located on the perimeter of the property, on land listed as commercial.

RPC member Mark Kimball asked if Bell Vista wasn't one of the planned gateway routes into Pahrump. Cheryl Beeman, assistant director of the Nye County Department of Planning, said it was contemplated as a gateway from Death Valley National Park.

Lance Kriegh said describing the apartment complex as compatible with the surrounding land use would be "like putting a Volkswagen in a Maserati lot."

"Behind me there is 160 acres of sagebrush and salt cedar that are undeveloped," Kriegh said. Unfortunately that's led to all-terrain vehicles kicking up dust, he said.

Kriegh pushed for restrictions on lighting. "We didn't move out there to have street lights and gutters."

Alex Mendez, representing CivilWise Services, an engineering firm representing HSLV Development, asked, "If not here, where do you want the multi-family?"

RPC member Garry Warner said residents should pay attention when "hard zoning" goes into effect or lose their chance to affect planning for the neighborhood. A master plan adopted in 2004 set aside various zones.

"You should've been here when the master plan was done. As soon as the zoning plan goes through, these are going to be done deals. There won't be any protests from the audience. If you people don't want these things, you better be speaking up when it comes to zoning time," Warner said.

RPC members approved the zoning change and parcel map, but recommended a 15-foot landscape buffer and a maximum height of 24 feet.

That was followed by a proposal to rezone 160 acres farther west into an RE-1 zone on Irene and Bannavitch streets. The initial plan would be to subdivide the section of land into two 40-acre parcels and one 80-acre parcel, but developer Chelsea Investments outlined plans to eventually subdivide to 160 one-acre lots, which would be allowed without notification requirements under an RE-1 zone.

RPC board members argued with CivilWise Services engineers over a suggestion to blade a 15-foot road into the totally undeveloped desert area. Warner said a dirt or gravel road wouldn't be suitable access for emergency vehicles.

"This is not the time to require building roads, because it is not a requirement by state statute, and it is not a requirement by Nye County code to build those kind of roads," said Dave Richards of CivilWise Services.

County Commission representative Patricia Cox said, "We weren't thinking someone would want to parcel 160 acres down to one acre when the whole surrounding area is 10-acre lots."

Richards replied, "Somewhere along the line it may develop out there and become appropriate."

Byron Foster, who works at the assessor's office, said a mound situated on the 160 acre-site could have historical significance.

"Rumor has it, and from people who have lived out here 30, 40 years, that is an Indian burial ground. There is a mound out there where you can find arrowheads and everything else," Foster said.

Foster asked why they wanted to divide it into parcels, when the developer doesn't know yet what to do with property.

"The majority of us have 10 acres. That's the minimum out there. There is no infrastructure," Foster said. "We all moved out there because it is a rural area with wide open spaces. It's perfect for riding our horses and whatever."

The dissenters convinced the board to allow a rezoning only to an RH 9.5 zone, which would eventually allow parceling down to a minimum of 9.5 acres. The applicant has a right to appeal the decision to the Nye County Commission.

Finally, even farther west into the desert, the RPC voted to recommend the denial of a tentative map to create 46 residential lots on 84.2 acres in a rural estates zone on Corbin and Adkisson Street.

A waiver was denied from requirements in the zone mandating a minimum of two-acre lots and a request for 24-foot road rights-of-way instead of a 35-foot right-of-way.

Zuzana Kukol, who owns a 400-pound Siberian tiger among other animals, said current construction is located on five- and 10-acre parcels.

"The construction would force as many as six homes next to my property. It would impede on the welfare of my animals, which may be a cause of concern for anyone who chose to live in the development," Kukol wrote.

The applicants, LDO Management, are, she said, "trying to bring the city into the country. I and my neighbors have everything from a gun range, horses, lions, tigers and dogs. Such high-density housing would likely cause friction between myself and new neighbors which would be in such close proximity. The animals I have do roar, sometimes at unusual hours."