RPC torpedoes bumper boat attraction

A request for a conditional use permit to operate Big Splash Bumper Boat at 231 S. Frontage Rd. was torpedoed by the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Wednesday, which rejected the application by a majority vote.

Tynia Dickson wanted to operate seasonal bumper boat rides, what she described as “an inner tube with an attitude” in a circular pond 50 feet in diameter and three feet deep. The bumper boat rides were described in the application as good clean fun for locals and visitors, for all ages and abilities.

Dickson has the ability to appeal the denial to the Nye County Commission. The application was tabled at the July 24 RPC meeting.

RPC Chairman John Koenig said he still had seven questions dealing with issues like water use, parking, noise, electrical supplies, the water source, state health department regulations and restrooms.

Dickson’s application stated the pond would use 91,583 gallons per season or less, including evaporation. She said there is an existing six-foot fence around the lot, boats will be cable locked to the dock after hours, the speed by motorists would be slow enough to mitigate dust in the parking lot and they were negotiating to share parking space with a neighboring restaurant.

Koenig said the county can’t waive requirements to pave a parking lot with two inches of asphalt or a double chip seal. That’s due to a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Koenig said he didn’t want the pool emptied.

“I don’t want 2,000 gallons of water running down the street,” Koenig said.

Heath Campbell, owner of Heath’s Laff Factory at 251 S. Frontage Rd., wrote a letter stating he’d allow Splash Bumper Boats to use the parking lot on the west side of his restaurant. Nye County Interim Community Development Director Darrell Lacy said there have been other instances where businesses shared parking that the county needs to address. He noted a mobile home dealer parks rigs on property owned by Gold Town Casino.

Dickson said they had originally planned to fill up from a fire hydrant, but RPC member Bill Dolan said Utilities Inc. of Central Nevada would require they hook up to their water and sewer lines. Dolan had concerns there will be boats with gas and oil.

“If you should have a spill, it’s wiped up right away,” he said.

Dolan said he spoke to Whitney Taylor with the state health department after reviewing her email to Dickson that the state wouldn’t regulate the business. He said the bumper boat rides would have to abide by a lot of regulations under the Nevada Administrative Code and didn’t feel Dickson answered a lot of Taylor’s questions. Dolan defined the bumper boats as inner tubes or raft-like devices riding on an artificial current along a relatively flat course.

RPC member Rebecca McCall made the motion to deny the application.

In other matters, the RPC considered recommendations from the Nye County Animal Advisory Committee to replace a residential kennel definition in the county code with a multi-pet permit. Under the revisions to the animal control ordinance currently in place, an owner of more than five pets but no more than 10 would be required to obtain a residential kennel permit. Someone with more than 10 cats or dogs would be required to obtain a commercial kennel permit.

Animal Advisory Board Chairman Scott Shoemaker said the intent is to eliminate the impression someone had a commercial business by owning more than five pets. The RPC tabled the item to allow staff to present the revised county code language.

“I have never had so many people come into this place carrying pitchforks ready to kill somebody because of the increased traffic on our roads because of six pets and we have to call it a kennel,” Koenig said.