Developer of Grandview in Douglas County withdraws request for more houses

A developer has withdrawn plans to put another 250 homes along Carson Valley's east side.

Stephen Mothersell, president of SCM Homes, said the company won't pursue a request to make 519 acres near East Valley Road a receiving area, a designation that could have allowed the 250 houses.

Mothersell asked for the change after the county told him he would have to provide sewer and water service to a 182-home development called Grandview Estates that was previously approved. He said the extra homes would be needed to justify the expense of sewer and water systems instead of individual wells and septic tanks.

Now the company will stay with the original plan for Grandview.

"We have concluded that in the public's opinion, it is much more important to leave the land in the condition it is in," said Mothersell. "We are very pleased with our project as it was originally approved."

Two dozen people who had been waiting to speak on the receiving area request applauded. Several residents had written letters opposing the additional homes and citing concerns about increases in the density of houses.

The proposed Grandview Estates will cover 861 acres northeast of Minden along East Valley Road and north of Buckeye Road. The 182 houses are to be clustered on two- to three-acre lots, with the rest of the land preserved as open space.

The land is zoned for 5-acre lots, but the approval included a planned development designation, which allows the smaller sizes.