Park Cattle Co. would have a hard time getting their proposed master plan amendment past four of the six county commission candidates who debated at the CVIC Hall on Tuesday night.
Republican District 1 candidate Greg Lynn said Park's proposal to convert 4,500 acres of agricultural land into 4,900 residential units, commercial buildings and open space is "overreaching."
"The first thing this project is going to do is bust the growth ordinance," he said to an audience of more than 60 people. "The growth ordinance doesn't anticipate new receiving areas."
Last year, county commissioners approved an ordinance that allows a 2 percent rate of growth compounded annually and follows a set schedule of building permit allocations. The ordinance will be on the November ballot for voter approval.
Lynn warned against "chewing up" the Valley's open space and said the economic downturn in the housing industry will allow the county to catch up on infrastructure needs.
Republican opponent Dave Nelson criticized Park Cattle's apparent disregard for the master plan.
"When they first started holding meetings, I asked Park Cattle about following our master plan, and their comment was, 'You have your master plan and we have ours,'" Nelson said.
Nelson said Park Cattle's land was zoned A-19 when they bought it, allowing one house per 19 acres, unlike other ranchers whose land was changed under new zoning laws.
"They are entitled to 600 units (as allowed by clustering bonuses)," Nelson said. "They are asking for new receiving areas, even though they had receiving area and sold it. It's all about the big G: Greed. I have no sympathy for Park Cattle."
District 3 Republican incumbent Doug Johnson gave a pithy critique:
"I'll keep this short and sweet: Follow our ordinances and zoning laws, and county commissioners wouldn't have to look at these projects," he said.
Republican District 5 candidate Stuart Posselt sided with critics.
"Park Cattle has the right to ask for a change to build 5,000 homes, but we have the right to say no if we determine it violates our master plan," he said.
Posselt said a developer can promise new schools and fire stations, but the county can't enforce those promises after a zoning change is granted.
"How will the county benefit from 5,000 new homes?" Posselt said. "Will it improve traffic on Highway 395? Will it help build new schools?"
District 5 Democratic candidate Nancy Epstein said she hadn't seen enough of Park Cattle's proposal to pass judgment.
"I want to stay fair and open-minded," Epstein said. "What are they offering?"
Epstein said the project will be vetted by the town boards and planning commission before reaching the county commission.
"They [Park Cattle] will have some hurtles to overcome," she said.
Democratic opponent George Thiel took a similar position.
"I haven't seen enough to make a decision," he said. "From the county standpoint, growth should be from the core out."
District 1 Democratic candidate Anje deKnijf and District 3 Independent American candidate Eric Rieman will not appear on the primary ballot and did not participate in the debate.
District 3 Republican candidate Blaine Spires and District 5 Republican candidate Mike Olson will appear on the primary ballot but chose not to participate in the debate.
"I am trying to spend most of my time walking doors and meeting as many people in the community as possible, and that's what I was doing the night of the debate," Spires said.
"I apologize to those that were expecting me, but I had a personal obligation to take care of," Olson said.
The debate was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Timken-Sturgis Foundation.
Park Cattle's master plan amendment will go before the Gardnerville Town Board Aug. 5 and the Minden Town Board Aug. 6 and before the planning commission Aug. 12-13 in a special two-day meeting.
n Scott Neuffer can be reached at sneuffer@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 217.
