Virginia Ranch school site up for debate Thursday

The only real question regarding a 1,020-home subdivision seeking modifications in southern Gardnerville is what to do with a 10.5-acre school site that was reserved nearly 20 years ago.

Commissioners meet 10 a.m. Thursday in the historic Douglas County Courthouse, 1616 Eighth St., Minden.

The Virginia Ranch subdivision is capped at the number of homes allowed on the property by both a development agreement and a settlement.

Located behind the Gardnerville Walmart, the project has been on the books since it was first approved in 2004.

Last year, school board trustees voted in favor of a plan to trade the site, which is a mile from Gardnerville Elementary School, for possible employee housing.

If the district owned the site, giving it up would be a significant value, but if the district wanted to place a school there, it would have to pay for the site and then go to bond to build an elementary school.

“There’s been no dedication to the school (district), so the property is still under the ownership of the landowner,” Deputy District Attorney Cynthea Gregory told planning commissioners at their March 20 meeting. Negotiations are underway between the landowner and the school district, according to Planner Kate Moroles-O’Neil.

The year after the project was approved, the Douglas County School District had 7,040 students enrolled. Since then, the enrollment has dropped to 5,325 students.

Planning Commissioner Kirk Walder pointed out that the 2020 Master Plan reported there was room for 1,733 additional students in the district. Gardnerville Elementary had an enrollment of 388 students in April.

One of the first things builders will have to do is build 1.6 miles of Muller Lane Parkway between Grant Avenue and Toler Lane.