MARK WAITE / PVT Marilyn Mikulis, at right, objects to a proposed child care facility while proponents Curt and Pamela Moen listen at left. Advertisement

The gasps were audible throughout the room when Curt and Pamela Moen told the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Wednesday their proposed child care and pre-school facility at 2800 S. Sagebrush Ave. might house up to 150 children.

The request was denied by the RPC, despite a recommendation of approval by the Nye County Planning Department staff.

Child care facilities are a permitted use in residential zones if the property owner obtains a conditional use permit. But Nye County Planning Director Jack Lohman said his staff was unaware there would be that many children.

"The scope of this project has gotten bigger than when we drew up the report. I'm not sure we can stand firm on our recommendation," Lohman said.

The Moens planned to build an 8,700-square-foot home on an acre and a half 200 feet north of the intersection of Sagebrush Avenue and Cactus Street.

"Our density is not extreme. We're looking at possibly ... up to 150 children at the child care facility. They're running the calculations now on usable space," Curt Moen said.

Traffic counts could be 300 vehicles per day, he said. The Moens, however, talked about possibly having a van shuttle children to the school.

RPC Chairman Mark Kimball said child care facilities are badly needed in Pahrump but noted it was a nice residential neighborhood.

Recently Carrousel Child Care Center on Bronco Street was allowed to remain open, but the number of children was reduced from 52 to 12. Last year Lil' Rascals closed its Calvada Boulevard operation.

"I believe the state recommends the maximum number of kids at a day care facility is 12. Twelve kids is not going to impact a neighborhood," said Doug Stout, a resident of Cactus Street. "When you're talking about 150 kids in a residential neighborhood that means 300 trips."

Peter Skorich, 2160 Sagebrush St., said, "I'm totally dead set against it. I bought my house a year ago. If that facility would've been there, I would have kept on driving."

Kimball noted some people don't want Pahrump Valley High School in their neighborhood on Calvada Boulevard. But schools and child care centers have to be somewhere, he said.

Curt Moen said child care facilities are normally located in residential neighborhoods.

But Marilyn Mikulis said she bought her home on Cactus and Sagebrush streets so there wouldn't be neighbors living close by.

"I would have to put my house on the market and sell it if a child care goes in there," Mikulis said. "It will devalue our houses. I sold real estate for 30 years and I never had a client who wanted to buy a house next to a day care."

Pamela Moen said the facility would be for children from birth to age 12. She described it as more of a pre-school than a child care center.

I'm an educator in our school system. I've been teaching for over 16 years and this is my love, which is early learning. That is why we looked at the facility there," she said. "I was looking for a nice area to have a facility like that."

Curt Moen said they "went to extremes to make sure the architecture fits with the residential nature" of the neighborhood.

RPC member Nevada Tolladay said, "Our community desperately needs this type of service. I was surprised to hear that staff was unaware of the scope of your project."

Tolladay said the home would be as big as four regular homes.

RPC member Norma Jean Opatik said it might have been better if at least it were on a corner lot.

After the vote Kimball said, "Somewhere there's going to be a need for this exact type of facility. I hope you find the right spot and get to do it."

John and Brandalyn Wharton however received approval for a conditional use permit and a waiver from having to submit a site development plan, to continue operating a child care facility for 12 children at the northeast corner of Blagg Road and Calvada Boulevard. The matter was brought to the RPC by the code compliance department. The Whartons hadn't obtained permits and licenses from the town according to county planning requirements.