A zoning change, master plan amendment and conditional use permit for a 5.4-acre parcel on which Spring Mountain Raceway wants to build a MicroTel Inn and Suites was approved without much of a fuss by the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Wednesday.

The property was rezoned from heavy industrial to general commercial. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Nye County Commission for final action Tuesday.

The proposal, for an 80-room hotel, would be located snug against the southern boundary of the property, next to the 188-acre racetrack along Highway 160.

Developers will be required to dedicate to Nye County up to the full width or half the right-of-way of any streets on the property.

A letter from Spring Mountain Raceway said they are entering into a development agreement with Utilities Inc. of Central Nevada to supply water and sewer service, which will open up several new parcels for development.

"We feel the above stated action will conform to the future use of the adjacent properties and will complement the surrounding needs, not only for the Spring Mountain race track but for the community of Pahrump and the future of the development in the immediate, surrounding area," the company said.

Spring Mountain Raceway dedicated a new clubhouse last June. In November, they opened a dealership for exotic, race cars.

Planner Beth Lee said the planning staff recommended approval of the change. The general commercial district will be compatible with surrounding zoning, she said. Streets will be adequate to meet the improvements. It will be complementary to the racing school, Lee said.

The only concerns were raised by Bob Howard, 2361 S. Zuni Ave., in the Winery subdivision, who complained about the noise of the race cars, and Ken Thomas, who was concerned the project may interfere with his plans to install solar panels on neighboring property.

Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Chairman Mark Kimball told Thomas the exact plans for the hotel, including the number of floors, aren't being presented at this time.

Howard said there needs to be a berm or sound barrier to block some of the noise. He also mentioned the only entrance to the hotel would be from Highway 160. He said drivers should be able to access it from the track without having to go out on the highway.

Consultant Audrey Zachary said after receiving approvals from the commission, Spring Mountain Raceway will have to do a traffic study, which includes getting an encroachment approved by the Nevada Department of Transportation as part of the site development plan.

Russ Meads, co-owner of the company building the project, Classic Homes, said he already wrote a $76,000 check for a bond for future road improvements.