66°F
weather icon Windy

County postpones voting on development agreement for dormant residential project

Nye County commissioners postponed approving a development agreement between the county and Beazer Homes Holding Corp. for a residential subdivision in Burson Ranch at Tesora in Pahrump.

Commissioners said they will bring the document back at the Nov. 14 meeting after a number of officials and residents expressed concerns about water, safety and infrastructure in the proposed subdivision.

Pahrump Fire Chief Scott Lewis said he didn’t have a discussion with the developer about the fire service.

“The original agreement, in 2005 obviously was based on a certain set of parameters. Those parameters exponentially have increased over a decade, and so, our service requirements have also changed,” he said.

“I think we need to have a discussion, and I think we just all need to be on the same page as to what the expectations are, how we are going to serve that community in addition to our increased service demands,” he said.

Nye County Sheriff Sharon Wehrly said she would need another deputy sheriff for the subdivision.

“More people placed in that area are going to cause a problem as far as traffic control, as far as the sheriff’s office is concerned and also the signage,” Wehrly said.

Commissioner Donna Cox said she had concerns about the water.

“I don’t have a problem with you developing, I think that would be nice to have some extra homes. I do have a problem with a density because at the time you originally planned this, there was talk to be allowed water that we may not have today,” Cox said.

Nye County Planning Director Darrell Lacy said a single household in the proposed area uses approximately 250-270 gallons of water per day. Pahrump Utility Company, Inc. General Manager Gregory Hafen II said the company’s average customer uses roughly 300 gallons of water per day.

“Currently, we dedicated I believe 0.88 acres feet of water per unit. So that 3-to-1 ratio appears to be happening in practice. Additionally, we have roughly 70-acre feet of water dedicated to maintain the common areas,” Kaempfer Crowell attorney Anthony Celeste said.

“Our goal is to help alleviate and not use more (water) than our fair share,” he said.

The proposed development agreement is an update and readoption of the previous agreement between the county and the company that would allow for the construction of 586 single-family residential homes, along with approximately 13 acres of park and open space. The previous development agreement was adopted in 2005 and expired in 2015.

Beazer Homes Holdings Corp. was unable to finish the project when the economy tanked, and the agreement subsequently expired. The company built 33 residential homes in the subdivision off Malibou Avenue south of Manse Road.

The builder is requesting an additional 10 years to complete this project. In addition to the new development agreement, Beazer Homes Holding Corp. has submitted a new subdivision improvement agreement updating the status of the performance bond.

The agreement approved in 2006 required the firm to secure a performance bond of $19.2 million. Since securing the performance bond, this bond has been reduced to $4.8 million, 25 percent of the original amount.

With the approval of the previous development agreement, Beazer Homes Holding Corp. was required to make contributions to the county because of the anticipated impact of the project to the county, according to the documents.

The firm satisfied several obligations, including contributing to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, conveying 12.6-acre feet of quasi-municipal water rights to the Nye County School District, submitting final maps for the property, forming a homeowner’s association and providing improvement plans.

Additionally, the $150 impact fee per unit is included in the agreement.

The proposed agreement also includes the requirement for approximately 3-to-1 dedication, for every gallon expected to be used the developer must dedicate three gallons to the utility.

About 75 percent of the required infrastructure has been completed to date, and the performance bond has been reduced to 25 percent of its original amount, as approved by Nye County commissioners previously, according to the documents.

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Beatty Clinic gets tons of help with new a/c

BEATTY — The Beatty Foundation, an affiliate of AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA), did tons of good at the Beatty Clinic on March 22. Nine tons, exactly.

11th Annual Chili Cook-Off brings tempting tastings and festival fun

The 11th Annual International Chili Society and Silver State Chili Cook-Off took over Petrack Park this past weekend for three days filled with savory tastings, fun and activities and of course, some intense culinary competition.

Pahrump homeschoolers dance the night away

Pahrump Valley’s homeschool youth were whisked away into the Enchanted Forest this month, with local Moose Lodge #808 hosting a night of dancing and revelry in honor of an age-old adolescent right-of-passage, prom.

Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.