Commission approves new master plan

North Las Vegas is one step closer to having a plan -- a comprehensive land-use plan.

Property owners, developers and future home buyers can now learn what land uses are proposed for the growing city's remaining open space. After more than 18 months of work, the Planning Commission voted 6-1 Wednesday to approve the new master plan.

Commissioner Harry Shull cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he supported a last-minute proposal by Chairman Tom Lisiewski to change the density of single-family residential development from two to 4.5 units per acre to six.

Lisiewski said if builders were allowed six units per acre, they would be more likely to provide much-needed parks -- a goal of the City Council -- as part of planned-unit developments.

He changed his stance after members of the city staff said that such a significant change would require additional public hearings and discussion, further delaying the plan.

"Bringing something up like this at the 11 1/2 hour ... I think you would have to delay it to consider it," Don Schmeiser, director of development services, said. He said, however, that the commission could reward builders who provide more parks through zoning changes that allow higher density.

The plan is not cast in stone, Deputy City Attorney Mark Zalaoras said. It is a guideline for development and can be amended in the future.

What was included in the approval was a provision requiring developers to provide a market analysis when proposing commercial developments that would cover, among other things, traffic counts.

The plan now goes to the City Council.

If approved by the City Council, the new land-use map will bear little resemblance to the old one. For example, the amount of land for commercial and high-density residential uses was reduced substantially.

The original master plan was adopted in 1986 and was last updated five years ago.

There were five public hearings and numerous workshops held to create the current 400-plus page document, which can be obtained from the city's planning department.

In addition to addressing land use, the plan also includes goals, policies and descriptions for transportation, municipal facilities, public utility improvements, housing, economic development and conservation.

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