TONOPAH -- It would cost $64,272 per year in administrative costs to establish an Amargosa Valley Regional Planning Commission, county commissioners were told Tuesday.

The Amargosa RPC would be a six-member appointed board and function like the Pahrump RPC in reviewing subdivision maps, parcel maps, zoning variances, special use permits and other planning matters.

An Amargosa Valley area plan, approved by the Amargosa Valley town board, set up a rough draft of zoning regulations, with minimum lot sizes the RPC could enforce. The planning commission would develop a more comprehensive long-term general plan for the development of the planning district.

The idea was discussed by the Amargosa Valley planning board back on May 31, 2001, but postponed at that time as being premature. The current Amargosa planning board just gives a quick review of parcel maps for existing land use requirements which are very limited.

Commissioner Joni Eastley thought the county could multiply the 2001 estimates threefold. County Manager Ron Williams said costs today would certainly be 10 percent higher. Williams recalled his estimates were criticized as way too high back in 2001.

The proposed budget anticipates a planning director would be needed to put in 40 hours per month, along with an assistant director, a planning technician and a secretary. Mapping materials and vehicle costs would add up to the rest of the $64,272.

Commissioner Butch Borasky was skeptical as well about the low estimates.

"The master plan needs to move forward. You can't have a planning commission without the master plan," Borasky said.

Amargosa Valley Town Board Chairwoman Jan Cameron said her board wants to move forward with the planning commission, but it wants to know the costs first. Cameron said Nye County Planning Technician Kelly Harris "is spending the vast majority of her waking hours working on Amargosa Valley these days."