County splits parcels for assisted living center

The Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Wednesday allowed Nye County to split a 12.15-acre parcel at 1571 E. Calvada Blvd. into two parcels, where developers plan to build a three-story, 178-unit, assisted living and independent senior housing facility on the west parcel, but now may have to consider the adjacent east parcel.

The RPC pulled an item to approve the conditional use permit for the assisted living facility which is in a community facilities zone.

Lys Barawid had plans to build 32 assisted living and 128 independent senior housing units in a four-story building on land he owns at 780 W. Gamebird Rd., but county commissioners last July rejected the plans, after concerns it didn’t fit in the rural estates zone and after concerns by Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Services. Developers reduced the building to three stories to meet a 35-foot maximum height requirement.

When those plans failed, County Commissioner Frank Carbone last August suggested developers do a swap for county-owned land at the Calvada Boulevard site, though the county now just plans to put the six acres up for sale at auction.

Planner Beth Lee said the district attorney is resolving an ownership issue, as the property was originally owned by the Pahrump Community Hospital District, when that district was dissolved in 2002 the land reverted to Nye County but the deed was never recorded. A deed restriction from Preferred Equities Corporation had designated the land for medical facilities.

RPC member Bob King, a former county planner, said no parcel map was submitted with the application.

“I’m just wondering why we’re hearing something about a parcel map when the parcel map hasn’t been submitted,” he said. “It just concerns me if another surveyor were to pop in and say here’s an application, I’ll bring you the map next week, whether we would accept it, or would we be hearing this if it wasn’t Nye County doing it?”

RPC member Bill Dolan didn’t like the western parcel being so close to the helipad for Advanced Medical Center. Lee said the developers need to look into Federal Aviation Administration separation requirements, she added Mercy Air also stores fuel on the property.

“I want to make sure the residents who are partaking of the facility are as safe as safe can be,” Dolan siad.

Real estate broker Steve Settlemyer said having 30 units per acre next to the heliport seemed like a lot of people.

RPC member Greg Hafen II made a motion to approve the parcel map providing a parcel map is submitted and accepted by the planning director and the title situation is cleaned up and the deed recorded.

RPC member Joe Goode Sr., who is the architect for the project, abstained from the discussion.

Afterwards, Goode told the Pahrump Valley Times switching to the east parcel will require another appraisal, further delaying the project. He said developers hope to break ground in June, they have already had their request tabled numerous times by the RPC.

It would be the second assisted living facility built in Pahrump recently. Inspirations Senior Living opened on Java Street in March 2012.