Park Cattle project enters development cycle

Park Cattle Co.'s application for a master plan amendment, which would convert 4,900 acres of agricultural land into 5,000 homes, commercial centers and preserved open space, was deemed complete this week by Douglas County Community Development and is now headed for a two-day planning commission meeting Aug. 12-13.

The plan will also go before the Gardnerville Town Board Aug. 5 and the Minden Town Board Aug. 6.

The Park Ranch Specific Plan involves two large chunks of land: a 1,373-acre parcel east of Highway 395, and a 3,214-acre parcel of land west of Highway 395 between Mottsville and Genoa lanes.

The eastern parcel spans both Minden and Gardnerville. Park Cattle proposes turning 800 acres into a receiving area for residential, commercial, industrial, retail, and public use development. The proposal includes 4,900 dwelling units for the residential sites. The 570 remaining acres would be reserved for open space, parks, drainage and flood control improvements.

The majority of the west parcel, approximately 2,800 acres along the East Fork of the Carson River, would be preserved as agricultural land and open space.

Proposed developments on the west parcel include residential clusters in the north and south corners, totaling about 80 to 100 units, a business park near the Minden-Gardnerville Sanitation sewer treatment ponds and a 150-room hotel as part of an expanded Dangberg Home Ranch park.

Under current agricultural zoning, which allows one house per 19 acres, Park Cattle can build 236 units. However, if Park took advantage of clustering bonus densities, they could build 600 units. Clustering allows higher residential densities on agricultural land in exchange for the preservation of open space.