Growth cap may get final approval

After years of debate, commissioners could approve a 2 percent compounded growth cap for residential development in Douglas County at their regular meeting, 10 a.m. Thursday at the Douglas County Administration Building in Minden.

County staff is recommending approval.

"We would like to see an ordinance adopted and in place, something we can work with," said County Manager Dan Holler. "Then, we can adjust it as necessary."

If approved, the ordinance would be effective July 1. The number of residential permits for 2007-08 will be restricted to 317, that number rising to 837 in 2057, the last year of this 50-year plan.

A total of 26,812 permits are allowed over the life of the plan.

The 12-page ordinance encompasses many aspects of growth control, from the calculation of allocations to the banking and borrowing of permits for larger developments. The numbers used in this ordinance are based on the 2000 national census, when the population was estimated at 34,520. The ordinance is restricted to Douglas County real estate outside the jurisdiction of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Building permits for any pre-existing development agreements are included in the cap, but some flexibility is built into the ordinance, allowing more permits to be issued in high-demand years. Development would be curtailed to compensate for the increase in subsequent years and in the end, the 50-year total, 26,812 permits over the life of the plan, would be the same.

"We will have less potential for development than we had a year ago, but flexibility should there be a market influx," Holler said.

In addition to the projects already covered by pre-existing development agreements like Chichester Estates and Genoa Lakes, two other developers have applied for this vested status.

Heavenly Mountain Resort and Raymond Sidney, owner of a proposed project called Georgetown Village in north Douglas County, will be considered at Thursday's meeting.

In other business:

• Saratoga Springs residents are challenging the design of a proposed expansion of Douglas County's North Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant, to include 41.5 acres of effluent storage reservoir and four rapid infiltration basins. The plans were approved by the Douglas County Planning Commission in May.

• Commissioners could approve an agreement between Douglas County and Bently Family Limited Partnership. Bently will use the treated effluent from the North Valley Wastewater Treatment Facility for agricultural operations.

• Commissioners could approve $35,000 for expansion of Douglas County's Mosquito Control District.

Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.

What: Douglas County Board of Commissioners meeting

When: 10 a.m. Thursday

Where: Courtroom of the Douglas County Administration Building